CARY, N.C. (July 22, 2017) – On another thrilling night at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, North Carolina FC held the English Premier League’s Swansea City AFC to a 0-0 draw. NCFC improves to 0W-2D-0L all time against Premier League competition.
"I’m pleased with how they did," said head coach Colin Clarke. "They put us under a lot of pressure, we withstood some and made some big saves. We had our moments and a couple of very good chances, but overall, I’m delighted with how the evening went. We got some minutes for the young kids, and were able to see some of them for the first time. I was very pleased.
"I think it’s a great celebration for us as a club to bring another Premier League team in two years in a row. Its great for our fans to see and great for our players to play against – just to learn from and watch them."
In another special night for the club, North Carolina opted for a youthful lineup, starting four players under 23 years old. The young side fared well against Swansea’s preseason roster and produced some of its best attacking moments of the first half with combination play between its young talent.
In the 19th minute, Dre Fortune provided NCFC with a golden opportunity. The young midfielder was played in behind the defense by Matt Fondy, but Fortune’s effort was saved in the one-on-one duel by Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
North Carolina FC used an inspired defensive effort from its backline to keep the Swans from scoring early. Despite the pressure from the visitors, NCFC held its clean sheet through the opening half.
Clarke subbed on eight new faces at the break, while Swansea opted for 10 fresh substitutes near the hour mark.
Macklin Robinson, one of NCFC’s halftime substitutes, produced two world-class saves in the second half to help keep the clean sheet for NCFC. In the 56th minute, he came up with an amazing diving save to deny Leroy Fer from point blank range. He came up big again in the 73rd minute, denying Oli McBurnie’s header from inside the box.
The closing stages of the match produced an end-to-end game, as NCFC and Swansea traded chances at goal. Brad Ruhaak provided a diving block to deny Jefferson Montero in the 83rd minute. Two minutes later, NCFC had its chance, as Jon Orlando found space in the box. However, Orlando’s shot was blocked away by defender Mike Van Der Horn.
Van Dor Horn produced a final attacking chance for Swansea, but his header was saved by Matias Reynares in the 90th minute. The two teams played out the remaining stoppage time without a goal, as NCFC clinched a draw over the Premier League opponent.
Coming Up Next:
NCFC will return to league play Saturday, July 29 as it hosts Puerto Rico FC at 7:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Tickets are available online or over the phone by calling the North Carolina Football Club Ticket Office at 919.458.8144.
Notes:
NCFC’s roster featured four guest players in Capital Area RailHawks Academy members Aidan Foster and Manny Perez, North Carolina FC U23 player George Acosta and former Academy member D.J. Taylor
Two former Capital Area RailHawks Academy members earned starts for NCFC in Dre Fortune and Taylor, while Academy players Foster, George Marks and Perez all appeared on the bench
Four players under the age of 23 started for NCFC in 18-year-old Jose Carranza, 20-year old Fortune, 20-year-old Taylor and 22-year-old Brad Ruhaak
Matias Reynares made his first ever appearance for NCFC, coming on as a substitute for Macklin Robinson in the 77th minute
NCFC played to a 0-0 draw for the first time since September 10, 2016 when it ended scoreless against Ottawa Fury FC
Box Score
Lineups
NCFC: Brian Sylvestre (Macklin Robinson, 46’, Matias Reynares, 78’); Kareem Moses (Aidan Foster, 77’), Brad Ruhaak, Connor Tobin (Christian Ibeagha, 46’), D.J. Taylor (Manny Perez, 62’); Saeed Robinson (Lance Laing, 46’, Marcel Kandziora, 89’), Nazmi Albadawi (Austin da Luz, 46’, George Acosta, 89’), James Marcelin (Bolu Akinyode, 46’), Dre Fortune (Jonathon Orlando, 46’), Jose Carranza (Tiyi Shipalane, 46’); Matt Fondy (Brian Shriver, 46’)
Subs not used: George Marks
SWA: Lukasz Fabianski (Kristoffer Nordfeldt, 62’); Martin Olsson (Stephen Kingsley, 62’), Alfie Mawson (Mike Van Der Hoorn, 62’), Federico Fernandez, Kyle Naughton (Angel Rangel, 62’); Leroy Fer (Jay Fulton, 67’), Leon Britton (Roque Mesa, 62’), Tom Carroll (Matt Grimes, 67’), Jordan Ayew (Jefferson Montero, 67’), Wayne Routledge (Luciano Narsingh, 67’); Tammy Abraham (Oli McBurnie, 67’)
Subs not used: Kyle Bartley, Erwin Mulder, Modou Barrow
Score:
NCFC: 0
SWA: 0
Goals:
NCFC: —
SWA: —
Cautions:
NCFC: —
SWA: Tom Carroll, 58’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
SWA: —
Attendance: 7,268
CARY, N.C. (July 22, 2017) – On another thrilling night at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, North Carolina FC held the English Premier League’s Swansea City AFC to a 0-0 draw. NCFC improves to 0W-2D-0L all time against Premier League competition.
“I’m pleased with how they did,” said head coach Colin Clarke. “They put us under a lot of pressure, we withstood some and made some big saves. We had our moments and a couple of very good chances, but overall, I’m delighted with how the evening went. We got some minutes for the young kids, and were able to see some of them for the first time. I was very pleased.
“I think it’s a great celebration for us as a club to bring another Premier League team in two years in a row. Its great for our fans to see and great for our players to play against – just to learn from and watch them.”
In another special night for the club, North Carolina opted for a youthful lineup, starting four players under 23 years old. The young side fared well against Swansea’s preseason roster and produced some of its best attacking moments of the first half with combination play between its young talent.
In the 19th minute, Dre Fortune provided NCFC with a golden opportunity. The young midfielder was played in behind the defense by Matt Fondy, but Fortune’s effort was saved in the one-on-one duel by Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
North Carolina FC used an inspired defensive effort from its backline to keep the Swans from scoring early. Despite the pressure from the visitors, NCFC held its clean sheet through the opening half.
Clarke subbed on eight new faces at the break, while Swansea opted for 10 fresh substitutes near the hour mark.
Macklin Robinson, one of NCFC’s halftime substitutes, produced two world-class saves in the second half to help keep the clean sheet for NCFC. In the 56th minute, he came up with an amazing diving save to deny Leroy Fer from point blank range. He came up big again in the 73rd minute, denying Oli McBurnie’s header from inside the box.
The closing stages of the match produced an end-to-end game, as NCFC and Swansea traded chances at goal. Brad Ruhaak provided a diving block to deny Jefferson Montero in the 83rd minute. Two minutes later, NCFC had its chance, as Jon Orlando found space in the box. However, Orlando’s shot was blocked away by defender Mike Van Der Horn.
Van Dor Horn produced a final attacking chance for Swansea, but his header was saved by Matias Reynares in the 90th minute. The two teams played out the remaining stoppage time without a goal, as NCFC clinched a draw over the Premier League opponent.
Coming Up Next:
NCFC will return to league play Saturday, July 29 as it hosts Puerto Rico FC at 7:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Tickets are available online or over the phone by calling the North Carolina Football Club Ticket Office at 919.458.8144.
Notes:
NCFC’s roster featured four guest players in Capital Area RailHawks Academy members Aidan Foster and Manny Perez, North Carolina FC U23 player George Acosta and former Academy member D.J. Taylor
Two former Capital Area RailHawks Academy members earned starts for NCFC in Dre Fortune and Taylor, while Academy players Foster, George Marks and Perez all appeared on the bench
Four players under the age of 23 started for NCFC in 18-year-old Jose Carranza, 20-year old Fortune, 20-year-old Taylor and 22-year-old Brad Ruhaak
Matias Reynares made his first ever appearance for NCFC, coming on as a substitute for Macklin Robinson in the 77th minute
NCFC played to a 0-0 draw for the first time since September 10, 2016 when it ended scoreless against Ottawa Fury FC
Box Score
Lineups
NCFC: Brian Sylvestre (Macklin Robinson, 46’, Matias Reynares, 78’); Kareem Moses (Aidan Foster, 77’), Brad Ruhaak, Connor Tobin (Christian Ibeagha, 46’), D.J. Taylor (Manny Perez, 62’); Saeed Robinson (Lance Laing, 46’, Marcel Kandziora, 89’), Nazmi Albadawi (Austin da Luz, 46’, George Acosta, 89’), James Marcelin (Bolu Akinyode, 46’), Dre Fortune (Jonathon Orlando, 46’), Jose Carranza (Tiyi Shipalane, 46’); Matt Fondy (Brian Shriver, 46’)
Subs not used: George Marks
SWA: Lukasz Fabianski (Kristoffer Nordfeldt, 62’); Martin Olsson (Stephen Kingsley, 62’), Alfie Mawson (Mike Van Der Hoorn, 62’), Federico Fernandez, Kyle Naughton (Angel Rangel, 62’); Leroy Fer (Jay Fulton, 67’), Leon Britton (Roque Mesa, 62’), Tom Carroll (Matt Grimes, 67’), Jordan Ayew (Jefferson Montero, 67’), Wayne Routledge (Luciano Narsingh, 67’); Tammy Abraham (Oli McBurnie, 67’)
Subs not used: Kyle Bartley, Erwin Mulder, Modou Barrow
Score:
NCFC: 0
SWA: 0
Goals:
NCFC: —
SWA: —
Cautions:
NCFC: —
SWA: Tom Carroll, 58’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
SWA: —
Attendance: 7,268
