The first game ever for the Charlotte Eagles in the A-League may have rekindled a rivalry from a few years back. In front of 1,915 fans at memorial stadium in Charlotte NC., in 75 degree beautiful weather, the A-League officially started for the Charlotte Eagles.
The Charleston Battery had lost their first game against Richmond and should have been ready. The Eagles started strong and in the 16th minute Dustin Swhinehart scored off a header by Ryan Leib. The game settled down for the next twenty minutes or so until Charleston's Matt Ferris received a caution followed by Seamus Donnelly's caution.
Charleston then got on the board in the 36th minute on a Dan Calichman goal with the assist from Paul Conway. The first half ended at 1-1.
The second half started with Charleston controlling the ball. Eagles Ryan Leib and Nate Watkins were cautioned at the 48th and 54th minute. Then in the 69th minute Mark Pinch scored off a Ryan Leib assist to put the Eagles ahead 2-1.
Charleston again came back to tie on a Paul Conway goal assisted by Jukka Rantala with 12 minutes remaining.
Regulation ended tied at 2-2.
The first 10 minute golden goal overtime ended with no score. With both teams attacking in the second overtime, defender Hugo Galeano headed the ball in front of the goal where Dustin Swinehart headed in the winning goal five minutes into the second overtime.
The Charlotte Eagles win this thrilling, intense, playoff like game and start the season with a well earned 3-2 victory. Both teams at times controlled the ball, but Charlotte seemed to use their "head" literally to pull out the win.
Starters Charleston: Calichman, Rantala, Jean-Baptist, Donnelly, Ferris, Conway, Cozier, Ball, Cannon, Wilson and Goalie Hudock
Starters Charlotte: Parry,Watkins, Galeano, Allen, Joey Johnson, Leib, O'Brien, Mouw, Swinehart, Pinch, and Goalie Adams
Shots: Charleston 16 Charlotte 12
Saves: Charleston 0 Charlotte 5
Fouls: Charleston 17 Charlotte 17
Offside: Charleston 2 Charlotte 2
Corners: Charleston 13 Charlotte 4
Referees: Jeff Feulner
Asst Ref: Eric Krajewski
Asst Ref: Kevin Bowers
4th Official: Alex Almageur
