Miami, FL (April 22, 2017)- North Carolina FC (1W-2D-1L; 5 points) earned a 1-1 draw on the road Saturday night against Miami FC (1W-2D-1L; 5 pts) at Riccardo Silva Stadium. NCFC broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute with a goal from Lance Laing, but Miami responded in the final minute of extra time to even the match with a goal from Robert Kcira.
Brian Sylvestre led the way for NCFC with eight saves, including a few saves from one-on-one situations.
The first half featured chances for both squads. North Carolina threatened early, as Laing earned a free kick in the 12th minute. His shot from outside the box went over the wall and curled past the far post.
North Carolina had another chance minutes later, as Austin da Luz had one of the best shots of the first half in the 19th minute. da Luz turned and fired a left-footed blast towards the far post, but the shot was saved by Miami goalkeeper Daniel Vega.
NCFC continued to pile on the pressure early in the contest, and had its best attacking sequence of the half with four corner kicks in a six-minute span. However, Miami FC escaped unscathed as its defense turned away each attack.
Miami nearly opened the scoring in the 29th minute, as Kwadwo Poku led Miami on a counterattack down the field. The attacker fed Vincenzo Rennella, whose shot was saved at the near post by Sylvestre.
Miami concluded the half with a few chances in the final minutes, but Sylvestre was there each time to deny the home team.
Soon after the opening whistle of the second half, Sylvestre denied Miami of another good opportunity in front of the goal, saving a shot from Jaime Chávez from about 12 yards out.
The teams continued to exchange possession and chances over the next 10 minutes until North Carolina opened the scoring.
NCFC's goal came in the 63rd minute, as Matt Fondy was able to find Tiyi Shipalane on the right wing. Shipalane threaded a cross through the box to find Laing on the far post and break the deadlock.
Lanig’s goal marked his second in as many matches and ties him with Fondy as the club’s 2017 leading scorers. Shipalane’s assist was his first of the year.
NCFC continued to hold its lead, as Miami threatened the goal. In the 82nd minute, a cross in the box was headed down in front of the North Carolina goal, but solid team defending resulted in a clearance.
NCFC seemed set to clinch the points, as time winded down, but a last minute attack led to Kcira finding his way through the defense. The midfielder ripped a shot past Sylvestre, off the post and into the back of the net. Rennella was credited with the assist.
Up Next:
North Carolina continues its road trip with a stop at Puerto Rico FC next Saturday April 29th at 7:30 p.m. at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel. NCFC will return home to host the San Francisco Deltas May 6th at 7:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Notes:
– Jamaican midfielder Saeed Robinson made the NCFC bench for the first time this season.
– Kareem Moses saw action for the first time this season, coming on for Paul Black in the 33rd minute.
– NCFC tallied a first-half clean sheet for the second-straight match.
– Lance Laing scored his second goal in as many matches, breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute to tie him with Matt Fondy as the club’s leading goal scorers with two goals each.
– Tiyi Shipalane earned his first assist of the 2017 season, serving up the pass for Laing’s goal.
Box Score:
NCFC: 1
MIA: 1
North Carolina FC: Brian Sylvestre; Paul Black (Kareem Moses, 33’), Connor Tobin, Christian Ibeagha, Steven Miller; Lance Laing (Brian Shriver, 73’), Austin da Luz, Nazmi Albadawi ©, James Marcelin, Tiyi Shipalane (Bolu Akinyode, 68’), Matt Fondy
Subs not used: Billy Schuler, Matias Reynares, Dre Fortune, Saeed Robinson
Miami FC: Daniel Vega, Jonathan Borrajo (Michel, 65’), Mason Trafford, Hunter Freeman, Michael Lahoud, Dylan Mares, Richie Ryan (Ariel Martinez 79’), Kwadwo Poku, Robert Kcira, Vincenzo Rennella, Jamie Chávez (Stéfano Pinho, 59’)
Subs not used: Calvin Rezende, Ryan Herman, Blake Smith, Tyler Ruthven
Goals:
NCFC: Lance Laing (Tiyi Shipalane, 63’)
MIA: Robert Kcira (Vincenzo Rennella, 90 + 5’)
Cautions:
NCFC: Conner Tobin 81’
MIA: —
Ejections:
NCFC: —
MIA: —
Attendance: 6,015
Miami, FL (April 22, 2017)- North Carolina FC (1W-2D-1L; 5 points) earned a 1-1 draw on the road Saturday night against Miami FC (1W-2D-1L; 5 pts) at Riccardo Silva Stadium. NCFC broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute with a goal from Lance Laing, but Miami responded in the final minute of extra time to even the match with a goal from Robert Kcira.
Brian Sylvestre led the way for NCFC with eight saves, including a few saves from one-on-one situations.
The first half featured chances for both squads. North Carolina threatened early, as Laing earned a free kick in the 12th minute. His shot from outside the box went over the wall and curled past the far post.
North Carolina had another chance minutes later, as Austin da Luz had one of the best shots of the first half in the 19th minute. da Luz turned and fired a left-footed blast towards the far post, but the shot was saved by Miami goalkeeper Daniel Vega.
NCFC continued to pile on the pressure early in the contest, and had its best attacking sequence of the half with four corner kicks in a six-minute span. However, Miami FC escaped unscathed as its defense turned away each attack.
Miami nearly opened the scoring in the 29th minute, as Kwadwo Poku led Miami on a counterattack down the field. The attacker fed Vincenzo Rennella, whose shot was saved at the near post by Sylvestre.
Miami concluded the half with a few chances in the final minutes, but Sylvestre was there each time to deny the home team.
Soon after the opening whistle of the second half, Sylvestre denied Miami of another good opportunity in front of the goal, saving a shot from Jaime Chávez from about 12 yards out.
The teams continued to exchange possession and chances over the next 10 minutes until North Carolina opened the scoring.
NCFC’s goal came in the 63rd minute, as Matt Fondy was able to find Tiyi Shipalane on the right wing. Shipalane threaded a cross through the box to find Laing on the far post and break the deadlock.
Lanig’s goal marked his second in as many matches and ties him with Fondy as the club’s 2017 leading scorers. Shipalane’s assist was his first of the year.
NCFC continued to hold its lead, as Miami threatened the goal. In the 82nd minute, a cross in the box was headed down in front of the North Carolina goal, but solid team defending resulted in a clearance.
NCFC seemed set to clinch the points, as time winded down, but a last minute attack led to Kcira finding his way through the defense. The midfielder ripped a shot past Sylvestre, off the post and into the back of the net. Rennella was credited with the assist.
Up Next:
North Carolina continues its road trip with a stop at Puerto Rico FC next Saturday April 29th at 7:30 p.m. at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel. NCFC will return home to host the San Francisco Deltas May 6th at 7:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Notes:
– Jamaican midfielder Saeed Robinson made the NCFC bench for the first time this season.
– Kareem Moses saw action for the first time this season, coming on for Paul Black in the 33rd minute.
– NCFC tallied a first-half clean sheet for the second-straight match.
– Lance Laing scored his second goal in as many matches, breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute to tie him with Matt Fondy as the club’s leading goal scorers with two goals each.
– Tiyi Shipalane earned his first assist of the 2017 season, serving up the pass for Laing’s goal.
Box Score:
NCFC: 1
MIA: 1
North Carolina FC: Brian Sylvestre; Paul Black (Kareem Moses, 33’), Connor Tobin, Christian Ibeagha, Steven Miller; Lance Laing (Brian Shriver, 73’), Austin da Luz, Nazmi Albadawi ©, James Marcelin, Tiyi Shipalane (Bolu Akinyode, 68’), Matt Fondy
Subs not used: Billy Schuler, Matias Reynares, Dre Fortune, Saeed Robinson
Miami FC: Daniel Vega, Jonathan Borrajo (Michel, 65’), Mason Trafford, Hunter Freeman, Michael Lahoud, Dylan Mares, Richie Ryan (Ariel Martinez 79’), Kwadwo Poku, Robert Kcira, Vincenzo Rennella, Jamie Chávez (Stéfano Pinho, 59’)
Subs not used: Calvin Rezende, Ryan Herman, Blake Smith, Tyler Ruthven
Goals:
NCFC: Lance Laing (Tiyi Shipalane, 63’)
MIA: Robert Kcira (Vincenzo Rennella, 90 + 5’)
Cautions:
NCFC: Conner Tobin 81’
MIA: —
Ejections:
NCFC: —
MIA: —
Attendance: 6,015
