CARY, N.C. (May 6, 2017) – North Carolina FC fell 2-1 to the San Francisco Deltas Saturday night at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Despite Billy Schuler’s equalizer in the 85th minute, which seemed to clinch the draw, San Francisco scored the game winner after heading in a cross from a free kick in the 86thminute to take all three points.
Deltas’ goalkeeper Romuald Peiser was excellent between the posts and made four difficult saves to help clinch the result for the visitors.
“It’s disappointing, we’ve been good up until now,” said head coach Colin Clark. “We’ve overcome some adversity in a few games and picked up some hard-earned points in the last two weeks. We were at home and needed to back that up. I’m disappointed we weren’t able to manage that tonight.”
NCFC had its best attacking opportunity of the first half in the 14th minute when a through ball from Matt Fondy found Nazmi Albadawi behind the Deltas defense. Peiser won the one-on-one duel, making a kick save to deny Albadawi’s shot.
In the 22nd minute, San Francisco broke the deadlock, as Reiner Ferreira headed in a goal off of a corner kick from Cristian Portilla. The goal ended a 202-minute shutout-streak for NCFC.
In extra time of the first half, Saeed Robinson nearly scored with a driven shot towards the far post, but Peiser was there to once again deny NCFC with a terrific diving save.
At halftime, NCFC held a 60-40 advantage in possession and duels won, as well as a 7-6 advantage in shots.
The teams came out of the locker room, and San Francisco’s defense continued to hold its line. NCFC boosted its attacking presence on the field after subbing on striker Billy Schuler and deadly set-piece specialist Lance Laing in the 76th minute.
The substitution paid off in the 85th minute, as Schuler scored his first regular season goal for NCFC. Schuler got on the end of a mishandled ball by the Deltas’ defense and sent his shot past Peiser to score the equalizer.
However, San Francisco responded quickly with a late winner in the 86th minute, as Portilla sent a free kick into the box and found Jackson, who headed home the goal to clinch the result.
Notes:
- NCFC entered halftime trailing for the first time this season after allowing a goal in the 22nd minute.
- Tiyi Shipalane and Austin da Luz returned to the starting lineup tonight after both missed the starting lineup in the last match at Puerto Rico FC.
- Bolu Akinyode and Saeed Robinson both appeared in the Starting XI for the second-straight match.
- Billy Schuler scored the first regular season goal of his NCFC career after coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute and played a season high 14 minutes. Schuler was the sixth NCFC player to score a goal this season.
- Lance Laing became a father Thursday night, as he and his wife welcomed Lancine Laing into the world.
Box Score
NCFC: Brian Sylvestre; Paul Black, Connor Tobin, Christian Ibeagaha, Steven Miller; Saeed Robinson (Billy Schuler, 74’), Bolu Akinyode (Jon Orlando, 88’), Nazmi Albadawi ©; Austin da Luz, Tiyi Shipalane (Lance Laing, 75’); Matt Fondy
Subs not used: Matias Reynares, Kareem Moses, Dre Fortune, Brian Shriver
SFD: Romuald Peiser; Bryan Burke, Nana Attakora ©, Kenny Tejisse, Reiner Ferreira; Tyler Gibson, Cristian Portilla, Kyle Bekker (Michael Stephens, 76’), Pablo Dyego (Andrew Lubahn, 82’), Devon Sandoval, Danny Cruz (Jackson, 59’)
Subs not used: Steward Ceus, Patrick Hopkins, Karl Ouimette, Greg Jordan.
Score:
NCFC: 1
SFD: 2
Goals:
NCFC: Billy Schuler (unassisted, 85’)
SFD: Reiner Ferreira (Cristian Portilla, 22’), Jackson (Cristian Portilla, 87’)
Cautions:
NCFC: —
SFD: Kenny Tejisse, 83’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
SFD: —
Attendance: 4,525
CARY, N.C. (May 6, 2017) – North Carolina FC fell 2-1 to the San Francisco Deltas Saturday night at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Despite Billy Schuler’s equalizer in the 85th minute, which seemed to clinch the draw, San Francisco scored the game winner after heading in a cross from a free kick in the 86thminute to take all three points.
Deltas’ goalkeeper Romuald Peiser was excellent between the posts and made four difficult saves to help clinch the result for the visitors.
“It’s disappointing, we’ve been good up until now,” said head coach Colin Clark. “We’ve overcome some adversity in a few games and picked up some hard-earned points in the last two weeks. We were at home and needed to back that up. I’m disappointed we weren’t able to manage that tonight.”
NCFC had its best attacking opportunity of the first half in the 14th minute when a through ball from Matt Fondy found Nazmi Albadawi behind the Deltas defense. Peiser won the one-on-one duel, making a kick save to deny Albadawi’s shot.
In the 22nd minute, San Francisco broke the deadlock, as Reiner Ferreira headed in a goal off of a corner kick from Cristian Portilla. The goal ended a 202-minute shutout-streak for NCFC.
In extra time of the first half, Saeed Robinson nearly scored with a driven shot towards the far post, but Peiser was there to once again deny NCFC with a terrific diving save.
At halftime, NCFC held a 60-40 advantage in possession and duels won, as well as a 7-6 advantage in shots.
The teams came out of the locker room, and San Francisco’s defense continued to hold its line. NCFC boosted its attacking presence on the field after subbing on striker Billy Schuler and deadly set-piece specialist Lance Laing in the 76th minute.
The substitution paid off in the 85th minute, as Schuler scored his first regular season goal for NCFC. Schuler got on the end of a mishandled ball by the Deltas’ defense and sent his shot past Peiser to score the equalizer.
However, San Francisco responded quickly with a late winner in the 86th minute, as Portilla sent a free kick into the box and found Jackson, who headed home the goal to clinch the result.
Notes:
- NCFC entered halftime trailing for the first time this season after allowing a goal in the 22nd minute.
- Tiyi Shipalane and Austin da Luz returned to the starting lineup tonight after both missed the starting lineup in the last match at Puerto Rico FC.
- Bolu Akinyode and Saeed Robinson both appeared in the Starting XI for the second-straight match.
- Billy Schuler scored the first regular season goal of his NCFC career after coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute and played a season high 14 minutes. Schuler was the sixth NCFC player to score a goal this season.
- Lance Laing became a father Thursday night, as he and his wife welcomed Lancine Laing into the world.
Box Score
NCFC: Brian Sylvestre; Paul Black, Connor Tobin, Christian Ibeagaha, Steven Miller; Saeed Robinson (Billy Schuler, 74’), Bolu Akinyode (Jon Orlando, 88’), Nazmi Albadawi ©; Austin da Luz, Tiyi Shipalane (Lance Laing, 75’); Matt Fondy
Subs not used: Matias Reynares, Kareem Moses, Dre Fortune, Brian Shriver
SFD: Romuald Peiser; Bryan Burke, Nana Attakora ©, Kenny Tejisse, Reiner Ferreira; Tyler Gibson, Cristian Portilla, Kyle Bekker (Michael Stephens, 76’), Pablo Dyego (Andrew Lubahn, 82’), Devon Sandoval, Danny Cruz (Jackson, 59’)
Subs not used: Steward Ceus, Patrick Hopkins, Karl Ouimette, Greg Jordan.
Score:
NCFC: 1
SFD: 2
Goals:
NCFC: Billy Schuler (unassisted, 85’)
SFD: Reiner Ferreira (Cristian Portilla, 22’), Jackson (Cristian Portilla, 87’)
Cautions:
NCFC: —
SFD: Kenny Tejisse, 83’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
SFD: —
Attendance: 4,525
