Hickory FC Suffer 2-0 Loss to Charlotte Independence 2

Staff Writer
12 minutes ago
3 min read

Credit Hickory FC

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

By: Anthony Badillo

Cloudy skies felt appropriate for the hosts tonight, as Hickory FC’s 4 match win streak was stopped in its tracks by the visitors from the Queen City. It only took 15 seconds for Charlotte to show why they've been and continue to remain atop the South-Atlantic Division, with a sequence of build up play from the opening kick resulted in a goal being scored by Eduardo De Oliveira, assisted with a cross from Aidan Morrison. Charlotte led 1-0 within the first minute, and never relinquished it.

Hickory FC tried to bounce back while Charlotte eased themself into the match. Hickory would get a chance to equalize after a foul on a James Lane run in the 24th minute resulted in one of many yellow cards for Charlotte on chippy night for both sides. The free kick that followed, taken by winger Martin Kozak, was blasted wide to the right of the net. Charlotte would continue to press and have opportunities, receiving a free kick which was crossed over and headed towards the top of the net, resulting in an awkward save for Hickory keeper Daniel Miklosi in the 28th minute. Miklosi would also have to make another save in the 39th minute, with a long shot outside of the box blasted and punched away.

Hickory FC nearly pulled an “anything you can do I can do better” out of their bag, with the opening of the second half nearly resulting in another goal within the first 30 seconds. After a deep pass from centre-back Alvaro Bonet to forward James Lane, Lane laid the ball off to right back Leo Souza, who crossed it into the box to forward Thomas Pollacchi who blasted his shot wide right of the net. This missed opportunity would sting even more minutes later, as Charlotte Independence 2 took a 2-0 lead off of an own goal from centre-back Charlie Naylor. After a cross into the box was deflected off of Miklosi’s glove, De Oliveira attempted to center the ball in the box, but the cross was deflected off of Naylor into the back of the net.

Hickory FC continued to try and fight back on a chippy, physical night, earning their first corner in the 66th minute, which was headed wide of the net by centre-back Jonah Straube once taken. Both sides continued to go back and forth, with a shot off the post for Charlotte in the 69th minute, and forward Bautista Rossi with a shot wide to the left moments later. Charlotte almost capped off the night with one last goal, as Daniel Miklosi ran out of his net to clear a foul, was tackled in the field of play and Charlotte, for a moment had an empty net. Taking the ball up the left side, a cross from Charlotte was received and shot but Charlie Naylor came up with the block on the line just as Miklosi returned back to his net.

The rough night ended for Hickory, with some extracurriculars after the game, on par for the level of chippiness we saw. Hickory will take their licks and move onward to try and finish strong in their final 3 matches of the season, all against clubs trying to catch them for their second place position.