Charlotte Independence and Richmond Kickers play to a draw

The Charlotte Independence extended its unbeaten streak to three games Friday night, playing the Richmond Kickers to a 0-0 United Soccer League draw at Ramblewood Soccer Complex.

The match was called after halftime because of lightning and rain. The second half will not be made up.

The Independence (4-4-4, 16 points) are 2-0-1 in their last three matches and haven’t lost since dropping a 2-1 decision at Richmond on June 7. Richmond (6-2-8, 26 points), in second place in the league entering the match, played only the first half of a match for the second straight weekend.

Neither team could get quite settled in during the only half of the match. The Independence had several good scoring chances — first in a flurry in the 17th minute when Ryan Finley headed a ball wide on a header at the far post and Tomasz Zahorski also went wide on the rebound in the 6-yard box.

Carlos Alvarez banged a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box off the crossbar for Charlotte in the 37th minute.

The Independence resume play in the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, facing the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer in the round of 16 in Chicago. Charlotte is one of only two non-MLS clubs remaining in Cup play.

Charlotte resumes its United Soccer League schedule with a July 4 match against St. Louis FC at Ramblewood Soccer Complex.

This story was originally published June 27, 2015 at 12:18 AM with the headline "Charlotte Independence and Richmond Kickers play to a draw."