CARY, N.C. (July 14, 2017) – North Carolina FC U23 concluded its inaugural Premiere Development League (PDL) season on Friday night with a 4-1 loss to the Charlotte Eagles at WakeMed Soccer Park. The team finished the 2017 season in seventh place in the PDL South Atlantic Standings with a record of 6W-6L-3D.
Charlotte jumped out to an early lead in the match, as the visitors scored twice in the opening 16 minutes. Kelvin Omondi was the spark for the Charlotte attack and scored the opener in the eighth minute off an assist from Joao Costa. Omondi then assisted Ashley Sibisi on second goal in the 15th minute.
After a change of shape and two new faces on the backline, NCFCU23 settled back into the match. The home team pulled one back in the 26th minute to come within a goal. Jamil Gracia cut down the right flank and found an open Damien Thomas in the box who finished the cross for his third goal of the season.
With NCFCU23 pushed up and pressing for an equalizer, Charlotte’s Costa broke through the defensive line on a counter attack and provided the Eagles’ third goal of the night in the 62nd minute. Charlotte then added another goal in the 82nd minute with a strike from Mutaya Mwape to bring the match to its final score of 4-1.
Notes:
NCFCU23’s roster featured six former Capital Area RailHawks members in Cody Brinkman, Vinne Durrand, Jamil Gracia, Nick Retzlaff, Alex Rose, Ryan Spaulding
Shariff Secca made his home debut, coming on as a substitute in the 74th minute
Box Score:
NCFCU23: Vinnie Durand (Bardia Asefnia 46’), Christop Schuneuwly, Matt Arnone (Jamil Gracia 22’), Cooper Duplantis (Baboucar Njie 22’), Chase Rhode; Cody Brinkman ©, Nick Retzlaff (Fernando Castellanos 74’), Cameron Steele (Ian Bennett 52’), Ryan Spaulding (Shariff Secca 74’), Alex Rose; Damien Thomas
Subs not used: Steeve Pouna
CLT: James Pyle; Douglas Oliveira, Gio Benjarano, Hazeley Pyle, Foster Appiah; Jovan Petrovic (Lorren Page 74’), Ryan Williams ©, David Koloko; Kelvin Omondi (Mutaya Mwape 27’), Ashley Sibisi (Shavon John-Brown 78’), Joao Costa (Langdon Roscoe 88’)
Subs not used: Andrew Pannenberg, Derick Gonzalez, Kosi Nwarfornso,
Score:
NCFCU23: 1
CLT: 4
Goals:
NCFCU23: Thomas (Gracia, 26’)
CLT: Omandi (Costa, 8’) Sibisi (Omandi 15’) Costa (unassisted 62’) Mwape (unassisted 82’)
Cautions:
NCFC: Rhode 78’
CLT: Foster 61’
Ejections:
NCFCU23: —
CLT: —
CARY, N.C. (July 14, 2017) – North Carolina FC U23 concluded its inaugural Premiere Development League (PDL) season on Friday night with a 4-1 loss to the Charlotte Eagles at WakeMed Soccer Park. The team finished the 2017 season in seventh place in the PDL South Atlantic Standings with a record of 6W-6L-3D.
Charlotte jumped out to an early lead in the match, as the visitors scored twice in the opening 16 minutes. Kelvin Omondi was the spark for the Charlotte attack and scored the opener in the eighth minute off an assist from Joao Costa. Omondi then assisted Ashley Sibisi on second goal in the 15th minute.
After a change of shape and two new faces on the backline, NCFCU23 settled back into the match. The home team pulled one back in the 26th minute to come within a goal. Jamil Gracia cut down the right flank and found an open Damien Thomas in the box who finished the cross for his third goal of the season.
With NCFCU23 pushed up and pressing for an equalizer, Charlotte’s Costa broke through the defensive line on a counter attack and provided the Eagles’ third goal of the night in the 62nd minute. Charlotte then added another goal in the 82nd minute with a strike from Mutaya Mwape to bring the match to its final score of 4-1.
Notes:
NCFCU23’s roster featured six former Capital Area RailHawks members in Cody Brinkman, Vinne Durrand, Jamil Gracia, Nick Retzlaff, Alex Rose, Ryan Spaulding
Shariff Secca made his home debut, coming on as a substitute in the 74th minute
Box Score:
NCFCU23: Vinnie Durand (Bardia Asefnia 46’), Christop Schuneuwly, Matt Arnone (Jamil Gracia 22’), Cooper Duplantis (Baboucar Njie 22’), Chase Rhode; Cody Brinkman ©, Nick Retzlaff (Fernando Castellanos 74’), Cameron Steele (Ian Bennett 52’), Ryan Spaulding (Shariff Secca 74’), Alex Rose; Damien Thomas
Subs not used: Steeve Pouna
CLT: James Pyle; Douglas Oliveira, Gio Benjarano, Hazeley Pyle, Foster Appiah; Jovan Petrovic (Lorren Page 74’), Ryan Williams ©, David Koloko; Kelvin Omondi (Mutaya Mwape 27’), Ashley Sibisi (Shavon John-Brown 78’), Joao Costa (Langdon Roscoe 88’)
Subs not used: Andrew Pannenberg, Derick Gonzalez, Kosi Nwarfornso,
Score:
NCFCU23: 1
CLT: 4
Goals:
NCFCU23: Thomas (Gracia, 26’)
CLT: Omandi (Costa, 8’) Sibisi (Omandi 15’) Costa (unassisted 62’) Mwape (unassisted 82’)
Cautions:
NCFC: Rhode 78’
CLT: Foster 61’
Ejections:
NCFCU23: —
CLT: —
