LEESBURG, Va. – Irvin Parra scored twice while Hugh Roberts had a goal and assist as the Charlotte Independence took a 5-0 victory against Loudoun United FC on Wednesday night at Segra Field after the hosts were reduced to 10 men during the first half.

Entering without a win in its last three, the Independence got an early long-range effort by Enzo Martinez that was comfortably saved by Loudoun goalkeeper Noah Abrams as he made his professional debut for United. The hosts created the first big chance of the game in the 19th minute, though, as Jovanny Bolivar battled for and won a 50-50 ball on the right and slipped a pass inside to Darluis Paz, who took a touch and centered for Kimarni Smith at the top of the six-yard area for a shot that the forward sent wide of the right post.

Having been held scoreless in its last visit to Segra Field, Charlotte took the lead in 29th minute as off a corner from the left, Jake Areman delivered a ball to the back post that was headed back across goal by Roberts for Parra to score his third goal in the past four games. The visitors had a chance to add to their lead on a volley by Adam Armour from the top of the six-yard area off a cross from the left by Joel Johnson a few minutes later, but eight minutes before halftime Loudoun was reduced to 10 men as Houssou Landry received his second yellow card of the game.

Charlotte took advantage quickly as Parra notched his second goal of the night in the 40th minute as Johnson threaded a cross from the left between the back line and goalkeeper for a tap-in finish inside the six-yard area. Martinez then threatened again two minutes later after a missed clearance by the hosts, but Abrams made a good kick-save to keep the ball from finding the left side of the net.

After assisting the opening goal, Roberts added a finish of his own off another corner kick four minutes into the second half as a pair of shots were blocked after the ball was played to the top-left edge of the penalty area only for the ball to fall kindly to the center back near the right post for a stabbed finish home. Loudoun tried to pull a goal back from a set piece of its own four minutes later, but Timmy Mehl’s header was blocked on the line by Areman before the ball was cleared to safety by the visitors.

Charlotte began to ramp up the pressure in the final half-hour to add to its lead, but Abrams came up with some big stops in the Loudoun goal to deny them. First, he parried away a powerful shot by Valentin Sabella in the 66th minute from the left side of the penalty area, and then a minute later first denied a potential own goal as the ball caromed toward the net off a defender as Sabella delivered a cross from the left before recovering to keep out a shot by Parra from inside the six-yard area on the rebound.

Abrams came up with another good save with 19 minutes to go as he tipped a shot by Sylvain Marveaux over the crossbar, but in the 74th minute the Independence added their fourth as Marcelo Palomino drove a precise shot from 20 yards just inside the right post beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.

The Independence continued to push forward and Sabella got his name onto the scoresheet with nine minutes to go as after a move down the right Blake Pope drew the goalkeeper and played a pass across the penalty area for the Argentine to finish, wrapping up a big win for the side’s postseason chances.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Irvin Parra, Charlotte Independence – Parra scored the opening two goals for the Independence and finished with four shots overall while winning 9 of 14 duels and 4 of 5 aerial duels in a strong display in attack.

Scoring Summary
CLT – Irvin Parra (Hugh Roberts) 29’
CLT – Irvin Parra (Joel Johnson) 40’
CLT – Hugh Roberts 49’
CLT – Marcelo Palomino (Gabriel Obertan) 74’
CLT – Valentin Sabella (Blake Pope) 81’

Full Box Score