Charlotte Independence are now without a win in three games, and boast just one win in six, after losing 1-0 at Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday.
The Rapids’ USL affiliate were kept off the scoresheet for a second successive game, having slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Charleston Battery last Wednesday.
Dennis Castillo was an unused sub in Tampa, as was the Rapids’ U-18/19s goalkeeper Kainoa Likewise. Castillo came out after 51 minutes of the loss to the Battery.
Despite the recent run of form, the Independence remain second in the Eastern Conference, though they are now seven points behind Louisville City FC, having played a game more. Charleston are a point behind, while the Rowdies sit four points behind Mike Jeffries’ team, but with two games in hand.
Charlotte will look to finish with a flourish. They have three games remaining of the regular season, starting with a home contest against FC Cincinnati this Friday.
Elsewhere, Sam Hamilton and John Berner are a part of a Phoenix Rising side on a great streak. They are unbeaten in 10 games, and have won the last four, including a 4-0 victory at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday. They won 1-0 at Sounders 2 last Wednesday. Hamilton played 90 minutes in both games, with Berner on the bench.
Phoenix are fifth in the Western Conference, on 46 points from 27 games. They will look for a clean-sweep of Cascadia clubs on Wednesday when they travel to Portland Timbers 2. Victory could lift them to within two points of fourth-placed Swope Park Rangers, who host LA Galaxy 2 on the same night.
