CARY, N.C. (March 23, 2019) – North Carolina FC capped off the historic Friendship Cup doubleheader with an electric match against Club Necaxa, winning 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The victory was the second of the day for the club, as the NC Courage rolled to a 4-0 preseason win over Orlando Pride earlier in the afternoon.
From the opening whistle, NCFC hit the gates running. In the second minute a Manny Perez shot flashed by the post. Just two minutes later, Austin Panchot had a great opportunity saved. These chances would be just the beginning for North Carolina FC, who went up 2-0 by the 25th minute.
First in the 20th minute, Panchot opened the scoring, cleaning up a deflected ball in the box. The Saint Louis native ripped his shot off the crossbar and into the net. Perez started the play with a cross into the box and Dre Fortune’s opening attempt was deflected to the waiting Panchot.
Just five minutes later, NCFC would strike again on a clinical counter attack. The play once again started with Perez finding space on the right wing. His well-placed cross was met by a running Duvernay who chipped his shot over the Necaxa goalkeeper. The duo previously played together at NC State and both products came through NCFC Youth Academy.
While the exciting play continued throughout the second half, the teams would wait until the 67th minute to find the game’s next goal. Following a mass substitution from the NCFC side, Necaxa pounced on an opportunity for their first and only goal.
Pedro Campos found a gap in the NCFC defense and scored on a shot from close range, while Ricardo Marín provided the assist.
Following the goal, NCFC bolstered its backline by subbing in Aaron Guillen and Alex Comsia. The duo helped see out the rest of the game with some help from goalkeeper Darrin Macleod, who came up with several big saves in the game’s final minutes.
North Carolina FC saw out the result over the final few minutes to earn the team’s fourth win ever against a Mexican professional team.
Coming Up Next:
A Southern Derby Cup fixture at home awaits North Carolina FC next weekend as Charleston Battery visits NCFC on Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m. This will be the first Southern Derby match of the season for NCFC, as the side looks to defend its 2018 crown. Tickets are on sale online by clicking here, or available over the phone by calling the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Notes:
The NC Courage played in the first game of the day and rolled to a 4-0 preseason win over the Orlando Pride.
North Carolina FC adds Necaxa to the list of Mexican professional teams it has beaten, joining Tecos FC, Pumas Morelos and Puebla FC.
Austin Panchot and Caleb Duvernay both scored their first goals for NCFC, while Manny Perez added his first assist for NCFC.
North Carolina FC’s game day roster featured NCFC Youth Academy products Caleb Duvernay, Dre Fortune, Manny Perez and DJ Taylor, and three current Academy players (Adam Armour, Trace Alphin, Colton Pleasants).
NCFC U-23 player Alex Comsia started on the bench for North Carolina FC and made an appearance in the 73rd minute.
NCFC Youth Academy players Pleasants and Armour earned their first appearances for North Carolina FC.
Box Score:
NCFC: Darrin Macleod; DJ Taylor, Tim Mehl (Alex Comsia, 73’), Sam Brotherton (Aaron Guillen, 74’), Caleb Duvernay; Victor Igbekoyi (Duval Wapiwo, 46’), Graham Smith (Tommy McCabe, 61’), Manny Perez (Marios Lomis, 79’) , Austin Panchot (Adam Armour,, 84’); Dre Fortune (Colton Pleasants, 61’), Robert Kristo (Donovan Ewolo, 61’)
Subs not used: Alex Tambakis, Austin da Luz, Ben Speas, Steven Miller, Trace Alphin
NEC: Yosgart Gutierrez; Alex Francisco Peña (Jose Fernando Plascencia, 46’), Osmar Mares (Jonathan Navarro, 68’), Ventura Alvarado (Luis Donaldo Hernandez, 46’), Emmanuel Alvarado; Hibert Ruiz, Felipe Gallegos (Ruben Gonzalez, 46’), Daniel Alvarez (José Manuel Perez, 61’); Martin Barragan (Ricardo Marin, 61’), Eduardo Herrera (Marcelo Allende, 46’), Angel Sepulveda (Pedro Pablo Campos, 46’)
Subs not used: Ruben Castellanos, Diego Garcia, Francisco Quiñones
Score:
NCFC: 2
NEC: 1
Goals:
NCFC: Austin Panchot (Unassisted, 20’), Caleb Duvernay (Manny Perez, 25’)
NEC: Pedro Pablo Campos (Ricardo Marin, 67’)
Cautions:
NCFC: Victor Igbekoyi 45+’
NEC: —
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NEC: —
Shots:
NCFC: 5
NEC: 5
Shots On Goal:
NCFC: 4
NEC: 5
Saves:
NCFC: 4
NEC: 1
Corners:
NCFC: 2
NEC: 4
Attendance: 4,220
###
CARY, N.C. (March 23, 2019) – North Carolina FC capped off the historic Friendship Cup doubleheader with an electric match against Club Necaxa, winning 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The victory was the second of the day for the club, as the NC Courage rolled to a 4-0 preseason win over Orlando Pride earlier in the afternoon.
From the opening whistle, NCFC hit the gates running. In the second minute a Manny Perez shot flashed by the post. Just two minutes later, Austin Panchot had a great opportunity saved. These chances would be just the beginning for North Carolina FC, who went up 2-0 by the 25th minute.
First in the 20th minute, Panchot opened the scoring, cleaning up a deflected ball in the box. The Saint Louis native ripped his shot off the crossbar and into the net. Perez started the play with a cross into the box and Dre Fortune’s opening attempt was deflected to the waiting Panchot.
Just five minutes later, NCFC would strike again on a clinical counter attack. The play once again started with Perez finding space on the right wing. His well-placed cross was met by a running Duvernay who chipped his shot over the Necaxa goalkeeper. The duo previously played together at NC State and both products came through NCFC Youth Academy.
While the exciting play continued throughout the second half, the teams would wait until the 67th minute to find the game’s next goal. Following a mass substitution from the NCFC side, Necaxa pounced on an opportunity for their first and only goal.
Pedro Campos found a gap in the NCFC defense and scored on a shot from close range, while Ricardo Marín provided the assist.
Following the goal, NCFC bolstered its backline by subbing in Aaron Guillen and Alex Comsia. The duo helped see out the rest of the game with some help from goalkeeper Darrin Macleod, who came up with several big saves in the game’s final minutes.
North Carolina FC saw out the result over the final few minutes to earn the team’s fourth win ever against a Mexican professional team.
Coming Up Next:
A Southern Derby Cup fixture at home awaits North Carolina FC next weekend as Charleston Battery visits NCFC on Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m. This will be the first Southern Derby match of the season for NCFC, as the side looks to defend its 2018 crown. Tickets are on sale online by clicking here, or available over the phone by calling the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Notes:
The NC Courage played in the first game of the day and rolled to a 4-0 preseason win over the Orlando Pride.
North Carolina FC adds Necaxa to the list of Mexican professional teams it has beaten, joining Tecos FC, Pumas Morelos and Puebla FC.
Austin Panchot and Caleb Duvernay both scored their first goals for NCFC, while Manny Perez added his first assist for NCFC.
North Carolina FC’s game day roster featured NCFC Youth Academy products Caleb Duvernay, Dre Fortune, Manny Perez and DJ Taylor, and three current Academy players (Adam Armour, Trace Alphin, Colton Pleasants).
NCFC U-23 player Alex Comsia started on the bench for North Carolina FC and made an appearance in the 73rd minute.
NCFC Youth Academy players Pleasants and Armour earned their first appearances for North Carolina FC.
Box Score:
NCFC: Darrin Macleod; DJ Taylor, Tim Mehl (Alex Comsia, 73’), Sam Brotherton (Aaron Guillen, 74’), Caleb Duvernay; Victor Igbekoyi (Duval Wapiwo, 46’), Graham Smith (Tommy McCabe, 61’), Manny Perez (Marios Lomis, 79’) , Austin Panchot (Adam Armour,, 84’); Dre Fortune (Colton Pleasants, 61’), Robert Kristo (Donovan Ewolo, 61’)
Subs not used: Alex Tambakis, Austin da Luz, Ben Speas, Steven Miller, Trace Alphin
NEC: Yosgart Gutierrez; Alex Francisco Peña (Jose Fernando Plascencia, 46’), Osmar Mares (Jonathan Navarro, 68’), Ventura Alvarado (Luis Donaldo Hernandez, 46’), Emmanuel Alvarado; Hibert Ruiz, Felipe Gallegos (Ruben Gonzalez, 46’), Daniel Alvarez (José Manuel Perez, 61’); Martin Barragan (Ricardo Marin, 61’), Eduardo Herrera (Marcelo Allende, 46’), Angel Sepulveda (Pedro Pablo Campos, 46’)
Subs not used: Ruben Castellanos, Diego Garcia, Francisco Quiñones
Score:
NCFC: 2
NEC: 1
Goals:
NCFC: Austin Panchot (Unassisted, 20’), Caleb Duvernay (Manny Perez, 25’)
NEC: Pedro Pablo Campos (Ricardo Marin, 67’)
Cautions:
NCFC: Victor Igbekoyi 45+’
NEC: —
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NEC: —
Shots:
NCFC: 5
NEC: 5
Shots On Goal:
NCFC: 4
NEC: 5
Saves:
NCFC: 4
NEC: 1
Corners:
NCFC: 2
NEC: 4
Attendance: 4,220
###
