Westchester Flames lose second game 3-2 to Charlotte

THUNDER ROAD
Flames lose game cut short by lightning
July 18, 2004

by Dylan Butler, Assistant Editor, BigAppleSoccer.com

The Westchester Flames returned home with a split of their North Carolina road trip following a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Charlotte Eagles in a game was stopped short in the 72nd minute after a second extended lightning delay.

Costea Decu, who missed Friday’s 2-1 win at Wilmington because of personal reasons, made a triumphant return and scored the game’s first goal when he blasted the ball into the lower left corner of the net in the sixth minute.

Charlotte (12-2-1) responded as Ishmael Mintah knocked in Dustin Swinehart’s cross, beating Flames keeper Ben Kartzman from 20 yards out in the 29th minute.

Both teams had quality scoring chances immediately following the equalizer, but Juan Munoz-Airey’s low shot through traffic in front deflected off post in the 33rd minute and two minutes later Evaud Thompson nearly made the most of an Eagles defensive miscue as he raced unmarked towards goal. But his shot was saved by Charlotte keeper Trevor Upton.

Just before the end of the first half Swinehart nearly set up another Eagles goal when his quick throw-in was picked up by Jacob Coggins, but his shot was just inside the 18-yard box was touched away by Kartzman.

Swinehart and Mintah combined again for the Eagles’ go ahead goal in the 49th minute when Swinehart played Mintah into the box and the midfielder from Ghana pushed the ball under a diving Kartzman.

Charlotte made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute when Patrick Daka knocked in Kevin O’Brien’s long ball before the game was delayed four about an hour and fifteen minutes.

When play resumed, the Flames (7-6-2) got within 3-2 when Evaud Thompson slotted in Juan Carlos Gomez’s saved shot for his team-leading 11th goal of the year.

But the game was delayed and eventually abandoned three minutes later.

The Flames return to the road next weekend for two more difficult games, taking on the Harrisburg City Islanders Friday at 7:30 p.m. before facing the Atlantic Division-leading Pittsburgh Riverhounds Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Charlotte Eagles
Trevor Upton; Aaron Faro, Declan Jogi, Kevin O’Brien, Josh Rife; Chris Lemons, Jonah Long, Ishmael Mintah, Juan Munoz-Airey (Patrick Daka-62); Jacob Coggins, Dustin Swinehart.

Westchester Flames
Ben Kartzman; Mario Gallo, Frank Gizzo, Oliver Gonzalez, Laurence Piturro; Roberto Esquivel, Fredy Nava (Juan Carlos Gomez-63), Wanderson Oliveira, Alex Tobon-Villa (Daniel Ribeiro-71); Costea Decu, Evaud Thompson.

Scoring
Westchester — Costea Decu 6
Charlotte — Ishmael Mintah (Dustin Swinehart) 29
Charlotte — Ishmael Mintah (Dustin Swinehart) 49
Charlotte — Patrick Daka (Kevin O’Brien) 63
Westchester — Evaud Thompson (Juan Carlos Gomez) 69

Discipline
Westchester — Roberto Esquivel (yellow card) 38
Charlotte — Jonah Long (yellow card) 54

Attendance — 1,141

07/19/2004