Alex Rivera/Contributing Writer
Fresh off their strong win against South Carolina, FIU finished their campaign for a Conference USA title with a 1-0 defeat to Charlotte in their semifinal Friday night.
At the start of the first half, the game was lackluster. Possession would change between the sides, fouls were committed, and shots were taken by both sides. It was at minute 13 when Teddy Chaouche was able to score off a header. A result of Charlotte catching the Panthers off guard, led to what would become the only goal they needed.
In the same half, what FIU had done against South Carolina on Wednesday was not happening again. In the first half, the Panthers were only able to make three shots, while the 49ers made six. The key for FIU was making the most of chances, but in the first half, those chances were few and led to nothing.
Also happening in the first half, a yellow card given to FIU’s Inigo Sagarduy for a late tackle. While it didn’t after the scoreboard, it did further taint FIU’s rather clean record this season.
At the start of the second half, FIU’s Adam Hassan went straight for goal after kick-off, which amounted to nothing after his shot was blocked. It was through the next ten minutes that FIU had made up for their lack of chances in the first half, but nothing that came close enough for goal.
At minute 59, another yellow card. This time for Adam Hassan who also made a late tackle.
While the second half was a major improvement for the Panthers, making 10 shots in this half, compared to Charlotte’s five, the same issue came up as from the recent losses FIU has experienced: not making the most of chances. The clearest example of this was Andrew Booth’s shot on goal in minute 73, weakly taken. Had Booth kept the ball for just a few more paces, it would have been a lot closer to goal.
At the end of the game, as with the last time these two played one another, FIU was able to create more chances but came home empty handed.
With this loss, FIU must wait on the results of other matches and for updated rankings that will determine if they will have an appearance in the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament.
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