It has always been a special moment at the 10200 Nations Ford road of Charlotte city in the United States of America North Carolina state every time the home football club Charlotte Independence is in action.
In a rather emotional match for Uganda Cranes defender Henry Kalungi at their Ramblewood soccer complex, he was facing his former pay masters, Richmond Kickers.
Both clubs play in the United Soccer League, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid.
Kalungi transferred from the Kickers to Charlotte Independence a couple of seasons ago.
Against his former side, the towering but calm defencer staged a solid defence wall that witnessed Independence register a narrow 1-0 home victory.
Slogic Caleb Calvert slotted home the solitary strike of the match after 30th minutes from Enzo Martinez’s great corner kick delivery.
Two minutes later, the hosts missed the glorious chance to double the goal advantage with a missed kick from the penalty mark.
Brian Brown at first put the ball in the net. However, he missed his second attempt after the referee adjudged infringement on the first attempt.
Martinez got cautioned in 36th minute for unsporting conduct as the first half ended with Independence ahead.
There were a couple of changes for the two sides. Fernando replaced Owusu as Paulini came in for Yeisley.
14 minutes to the climax of the game, Paulini got booked.
Independence’s victory comes in the wake of the team’s disappointing 1-0 home loss to Bethlehem Steel FC and a 2 all draw earlier.
Charlotte’s goalkeeper John Berner told the media afterwards;
I think this game was very important.
At the end of a three game stretch we really wanted to come out with three points and I think the guys did a good job in doing so.
Independence head coach Mike Jeffries was left excited by the gallant performance.
He told the official club website;
I think tonight was important because the mentality was really good from the beginning, we started strong.
The last two (games) we didn’t start as well as we should have.
We didn’t start with the intensity and the drive at the beginning of the game that we should have, but tonight we did.
I think we missed an opportunity to make the game a little easier on ourselves possibly with the penalty.
If we could have gone into half time 2-0 that would have made our lives simpler.
Kalungi and the rest of his teammates play their next game away from on June 24 against the Harrisburg City Islanders at the Skyline Sports complex.
The Islanders lost 1-0 loss to the Charleston Battery in their last match on Saturday night.
Team Line ups:
Charlotte Independence XI:
John Berner (G.K), Johnson, Slogic, Henry Kalungi, Duckett, Ekra, Enzo Martinez, Davidson, Estrada, Caleb Slogic Calvert, Brian Brown
Richmond Kickers XI:
Horton (G.K) D-Yomby, Troyer, Lee, Roberts, Sekyere Owusu, Ownby, Callahan, Asante, Yudai Imura, Grant
Subs: Mizell, Metcalf, Clowes, Herrera, Hilton, Hellmann, Ochoa
Match Officials:
Match Referee: Marco Vega
1st Assistant Referee: Rick Rogers
2nd Assistant Referee: Walter Heatherly
