Cary, NC (May 28, 2017)- North Carolina FC dropped a tough result on the road in Jacksonville today against the Armada in a Sunday afternoon matchup. An improved second half effort was not enough to overcome the early 2-0 deficit that Jacksonville's Zach Steinberger inflicted in the first half. NCFC goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre shutout the Armada in the second half in a hot and hard-fought battle at Hodges Stadium.
Sylvestre was a bright spot from the beginning, starting off the match with a solid save in the 5th minute when Jacksonville's J.C. Banks fired at close range.
Steinberger was too much to handle as he put the home team up quickly, scoring two goals in a matter of minutes. A Sylvestre rebound in the 30th minute fell at Steinberger's feet and the midfielder capitalized. Then two minutes later, a cross from Drew Beckie found Steinberger yet again, and he buried the ball making the score 2-0.
Midfielder Tiyi Shipalane worked the left sideline in the first half, as he looked for a teammate inside the box several times, but could not connect with any white jerseys up top. North Carolina FC struggled to get an offense going, as they posted one shot against the Armada in the first 45 minutes.
A halftime offensive substitute saw club all-time leading scorer Brian Shriver enter the match. The second half was statistically more successful for NCFC, as they began to connect in the final third. The team improved from just one shot earlier to five in the second half and outcrossed the Armada 13 to eight.
The second half also saw excellent goalkeeping from Sylvestre. He had back-to-back saves in the 78th and 79th minutes as he snuffed a one-v-one situation to keep the Armada at bay, then came up big yet again as Charles Eloundou looked for a goal. Sylvestre denied the Armada one more time when he got a hand on a Jacksonville free kick in the 84th.
Shriver nearly got one back in the 88th minute, but his diving header was snagged by Armada goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell just before crossing the line. North Carolina FC's efforts paid off in the five minutes of added time when Shipalane sent a rocket by Patterson-Sewell, denying the keeper his fifth shutout of the season.
Up Next:
NCFC returns home on Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. for a US Open Cup match against the Charlotte Independence of the USL followed by NASL action on Sunday, June 4 as they face the New York Cosmos at 4 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Notes:
- North Carolina FC's second half stats saw great improvement as they went from 42.6 percent possession to 63.4 percent in the second half.
- Tiyi Shipalane scored his second goal of the season in added time.
- Bolu Akinyode tallied his first assist for 2017
- Brad Ruhaak, who was signed on May 23, 2017, made his professional debut tonight for North Carolina FC.
- 18-year-old Jose Carranza made his second appearance for North Carolina FC as he was subbed in for Jon Orlando in the 68th minute.
Box Score
Lineups:
JAX: Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Drew Beckie, Mechack Jerome, Kalen, Ryden, Aaron Pitchkolan, Jemal Johnson (Bryam Rebellon 90+2'), Kevan George, Zack Steinberger, Jack Blake, JC Banks (Charles Eloundou, 71'), Jonathan Glenn (Derek Gebhard, 71')
Subs not used: Nicklas Maripuu, Devon Fisher, Kyle Nasta, Michael O'Sullivan
NCFC: Brian Sylvestre; Connor Tobin, Christian Ibeagha, Brad Ruhaak, Kareem Moses (Brian Shriver 46'); Tiyi Shipalane, Bolu Akinyode, Nazmi Albadawi, James Marcelin, Jon Orlando (Jose Carranza, 68'); Billy Schuler (Matt Fondy, 86')
Subs not used: Macklin Robinson, Lance Laing, Saeed Robinson, Austin da Luz
Score:
JAX: 2
NCFC: 1
Goals:
JAX: Steinberger (30'), Steinberger (Beckie, 32')
NCFC: Shipalane (Akinyode, 90+3')
Cautions:
JAX: —
NCFC: Ibeagha (54'), Albadawi (82'), Marcelin (89')
Ejections:
JAX: —
NCFC: —
Cary, NC (May 28, 2017)- North Carolina FC dropped a tough result on the road in Jacksonville today against the Armada in a Sunday afternoon matchup. An improved second half effort was not enough to overcome the early 2-0 deficit that Jacksonville’s Zach Steinberger inflicted in the first half. NCFC goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre shutout the Armada in the second half in a hot and hard-fought battle at Hodges Stadium.
Sylvestre was a bright spot from the beginning, starting off the match with a solid save in the 5th minute when Jacksonville’s J.C. Banks fired at close range.
Steinberger was too much to handle as he put the home team up quickly, scoring two goals in a matter of minutes. A Sylvestre rebound in the 30th minute fell at Steinberger’s feet and the midfielder capitalized. Then two minutes later, a cross from Drew Beckie found Steinberger yet again, and he buried the ball making the score 2-0.
Midfielder Tiyi Shipalane worked the left sideline in the first half, as he looked for a teammate inside the box several times, but could not connect with any white jerseys up top. North Carolina FC struggled to get an offense going, as they posted one shot against the Armada in the first 45 minutes.
A halftime offensive substitute saw club all-time leading scorer Brian Shriver enter the match. The second half was statistically more successful for NCFC, as they began to connect in the final third. The team improved from just one shot earlier to five in the second half and outcrossed the Armada 13 to eight.
The second half also saw excellent goalkeeping from Sylvestre. He had back-to-back saves in the 78th and 79th minutes as he snuffed a one-v-one situation to keep the Armada at bay, then came up big yet again as Charles Eloundou looked for a goal. Sylvestre denied the Armada one more time when he got a hand on a Jacksonville free kick in the 84th.
Shriver nearly got one back in the 88th minute, but his diving header was snagged by Armada goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell just before crossing the line. North Carolina FC’s efforts paid off in the five minutes of added time when Shipalane sent a rocket by Patterson-Sewell, denying the keeper his fifth shutout of the season.
Up Next:
NCFC returns home on Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. for a US Open Cup match against the Charlotte Independence of the USL followed by NASL action on Sunday, June 4 as they face the New York Cosmos at 4 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Notes:
- North Carolina FC’s second half stats saw great improvement as they went from 42.6 percent possession to 63.4 percent in the second half.
- Tiyi Shipalane scored his second goal of the season in added time.
- Bolu Akinyode tallied his first assist for 2017
- Brad Ruhaak, who was signed on May 23, 2017, made his professional debut tonight for North Carolina FC.
- 18-year-old Jose Carranza made his second appearance for North Carolina FC as he was subbed in for Jon Orlando in the 68th minute.
Box Score
Lineups:
JAX: Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Drew Beckie, Mechack Jerome, Kalen, Ryden, Aaron Pitchkolan, Jemal Johnson (Bryam Rebellon 90+2′), Kevan George, Zack Steinberger, Jack Blake, JC Banks (Charles Eloundou, 71′), Jonathan Glenn (Derek Gebhard, 71′)
Subs not used: Nicklas Maripuu, Devon Fisher, Kyle Nasta, Michael O’Sullivan
NCFC: Brian Sylvestre; Connor Tobin, Christian Ibeagha, Brad Ruhaak, Kareem Moses (Brian Shriver 46′); Tiyi Shipalane, Bolu Akinyode, Nazmi Albadawi, James Marcelin, Jon Orlando (Jose Carranza, 68′); Billy Schuler (Matt Fondy, 86′)
Subs not used: Macklin Robinson, Lance Laing, Saeed Robinson, Austin da Luz
Score:
JAX: 2
NCFC: 1
Goals:
JAX: Steinberger (30′), Steinberger (Beckie, 32′)
NCFC: Shipalane (Akinyode, 90+3′)
Cautions:
JAX: —
NCFC: Ibeagha (54′), Albadawi (82′), Marcelin (89′)
Ejections:
JAX: —
NCFC: —
