Charlotte Independence fell to a second successive 2-0 loss last Saturday when defeated by neighbors North Carolina FC at home.
In what was the first-ever North Carolina derby match, the Rapids’ USL affiliate suffered a first reversal at Sportsplex at Matthews, and a second shutout on the bounce.
On-loan Rapids players Caleb Calvert andAndrew Dykstra both played the 90 minutes. Sam Vines came off the bench early in the second half following an injury to Henry Kalungi. Ricardo Perez, meanwhile, was an unused substitute.
Calvert was offered two chances in a tightly-contested first half, but the Rapids striker failed to convert on either occasion. Dykstra was beaten twice in the second half by a North Carolina FC team which included former Rapids defender Michael Harrington.
Without a win in three, the Independence have slipped to sixth in the Eastern Conference of the USL. They next play Indy Eleven at home on April 28.
Mike da Fonte and Phoenix Rising FC played their most recent game last Wednesday, at LA Galaxy II. It took a 64th-minute strike from veteran striker Didier Drogba to hand Rising FC their third win of the season.
Rising FC remain fourth in the Western Conference. Their next game is home to Swope Park Rangers this Saturday.
