May 7, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Charlotte Independence News Release
STATESBORO, GA – The Charlotte Independence earned one point in tonight’s 0-0 draw at South Georgia Tormenta FC. It was the Jack’s first away match of the season and goalkeeper #30 Adrian Zendejas earned his first clean sheet of the season. The Jacks return home next week to host FC Tucson on Sunday, May 15 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:00 PM. It’s a double header night featuring the club’s USL W League inaugural match. The women host Greenville Liberty at 3:00 PM. One ticket is valid for both matches. Visit charlotteindependence.com to secure your seats.
“We’re still a new group coming together and we’ve played a couple different systems, so there is still a lot of learning to get done, but this is probably our strongest night defensively,” explained Charlotte Independence Head Coach, Mike Jeffries. “On other nights we’ve been better transitioning from defense into attack. We weren’t sharp enough in that area tonight, but overall defensively, the guys will feel pretty good.”
Tormenta earned the first corner kick of the match in just the first minute of play. Charlotte goalkeeper Zendejas was tested early with the service into the box, but he got up and punched the ball away dodging an early attack by South Georgia.
Charlotte’s #19 Quinn McNeill played a ball over the Tormenta back line in the 13th minute to a sprinting #11 Tresor Mbuyu on the counter attack. Mbuyu’s first cross was blocked, but his second pass found McNeill trailing at the top of the box. The shot was saved by Tormenta goalkeeper #1 Pablo Jara.
Zendejas made another big save in the 34th minute off a shot to the top left corner from #10 Adrian Billhardt. The last chance of the half came off a Tormenta corner kick. The cross found the foot of Billhardt again and his strike flew towards #6 Omar Ciss who was on the goal line to make the clearance.
“I’ll like to start off by saying how…