CARY, N.C. (Oct. 21, 2017)- North Carolina FC moved closer to earning a spot in the 2017 NASL Playoffs after a 1-1 draw on Saturday night against the San Francisco Deltas at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Austin da Luz and Pablo Dyego tallied one goal each in an end-to-end battle that kept the over 7,000 fans on the edge of their seats.
The match featured plenty of attacking play for all 90 minutes, characterized by quick passing and aggressive tackles. Dre Fortune created the first chance in the 2nd minute, playing a lovely cross in for Renan Gorne who was just unable to reach it. San Francisco responded with offensive chances of their own, keeping Macklin Robinson busy throughout the game.
Da Luz broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, finishing a tremendous curling cross from Fortune.
The teams were aggressive following the halftime break, with continuous action from both sides. The Deltas found the back of the net in the 63rd minute, but the goal was deemed offside and disallowed. They found the eventual equalizer 5 minutes later through a rebounded finish from Dyego after Robinson saved the initial shot.
Fortune nearly found the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute, but Deltas goalkeeper Romuald Peiser made an outstanding save to block his volley.
Both sides had late chances to steal all 3 points. Billy Schuler nearly headed home a Steven Miller cross in the 85th minute, and James Marcelin was called into action with a goal-line clearance in the 90th.
Coach Colin Clarke was satisfied with the result.
“I think you’ve seen a little of our steel and grit tonight,” Clarke said. “There were a lot of hard-nosed tackles out there and a lot of competitiveness. It was probably a fair result, at the end of it. I’m pleased with what we put into it, I thought they worked very hard as they’ve done for the full season. It was a good game all around.”
Coming Up Next:
North Carolina FC will close out the regular season on Sunday, October 29 as they travel to Indianapolis to face the Indy Eleven at Michael A. Carroll Stadium at 5:00 p.m. NCFC could clinch a playoff spot before next week’s game if the NY Cosmos win or draw with Jacksonville Armada in a match that will be played on Sunday, October 22 at 4:00 p.m.
Notes:
- The draw means NCFC is undefeated in 10 of it’s last 11 matches.
- Austin da Luz scored his second goal of 2017
- Dre Fortune recorded his third assist of the season
- Connor Tobin moved to first in the league in total clearances, with 155
- Nazmi Albadawi ranks second in the league for chances created, with 54 on the season
Box Score:
Lineups:
NCFC: Macklin Robinson; Paul Black, Connor Tobin, James Marcelin, Kareem Moses; Steven Miller, Nazmi Albadawi ©, Bolu Akinyode, Dre Fortune (Jonathan Glenn 89’), Austin Da Luz; Renan Gorne (Billy Schuler 63’)
Subs Not Used: George Marks, Lance Laing, Tiyi Shipalane, Brad Ruhaak, Danny Barrow
SFD: Romuald Peiser; Bryan Burke, Nana Attakora ©, Patrick Hopkins, Reiner Ferreira, Andrew Lubahn (Kenny Teijsse 88’); Michael Stephens (Greg Jordan 85’), Tyler Gibson, Dagoberto (Kyle Bekker 75’); Pablo Dyego, Tom Heinemann
Subs Not Used: Alex Mangels, Karl Ouimette, Devon Sandoval, Maxim Tissot
Score:
NCFC: 1
SFD: 1
Goals:
NCFC: Austin da Luz 30’
SFD: Pablo Dyego 68’
Cautions:
NCFC: James Marcelin 5’, Renan Gorne 59’
SFD: —
Ejections:
NCFC: —
SFD: —
CARY, N.C. (Oct. 21, 2017)- North Carolina FC moved closer to earning a spot in the 2017 NASL Playoffs after a 1-1 draw on Saturday night against the San Francisco Deltas at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Austin da Luz and Pablo Dyego tallied one goal each in an end-to-end battle that kept the over 7,000 fans on the edge of their seats.
The match featured plenty of attacking play for all 90 minutes, characterized by quick passing and aggressive tackles. Dre Fortune created the first chance in the 2nd minute, playing a lovely cross in for Renan Gorne who was just unable to reach it. San Francisco responded with offensive chances of their own, keeping Macklin Robinson busy throughout the game.
Da Luz broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, finishing a tremendous curling cross from Fortune.
The teams were aggressive following the halftime break, with continuous action from both sides. The Deltas found the back of the net in the 63rd minute, but the goal was deemed offside and disallowed. They found the eventual equalizer 5 minutes later through a rebounded finish from Dyego after Robinson saved the initial shot.
Fortune nearly found the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute, but Deltas goalkeeper Romuald Peiser made an outstanding save to block his volley.
Both sides had late chances to steal all 3 points. Billy Schuler nearly headed home a Steven Miller cross in the 85th minute, and James Marcelin was called into action with a goal-line clearance in the 90th.
Coach Colin Clarke was satisfied with the result.
“I think you’ve seen a little of our steel and grit tonight,” Clarke said. “There were a lot of hard-nosed tackles out there and a lot of competitiveness. It was probably a fair result, at the end of it. I’m pleased with what we put into it, I thought they worked very hard as they’ve done for the full season. It was a good game all around.”
Coming Up Next:
North Carolina FC will close out the regular season on Sunday, October 29 as they travel to Indianapolis to face the Indy Eleven at Michael A. Carroll Stadium at 5:00 p.m. NCFC could clinch a playoff spot before next week’s game if the NY Cosmos win or draw with Jacksonville Armada in a match that will be played on Sunday, October 22 at 4:00 p.m.
Notes:
- The draw means NCFC is undefeated in 10 of it’s last 11 matches.
- Austin da Luz scored his second goal of 2017
- Dre Fortune recorded his third assist of the season
- Connor Tobin moved to first in the league in total clearances, with 155
- Nazmi Albadawi ranks second in the league for chances created, with 54 on the season
Box Score:
Lineups:
NCFC: Macklin Robinson; Paul Black, Connor Tobin, James Marcelin, Kareem Moses; Steven Miller, Nazmi Albadawi ©, Bolu Akinyode, Dre Fortune (Jonathan Glenn 89’), Austin Da Luz; Renan Gorne (Billy Schuler 63’)
Subs Not Used: George Marks, Lance Laing, Tiyi Shipalane, Brad Ruhaak, Danny Barrow
SFD: Romuald Peiser; Bryan Burke, Nana Attakora ©, Patrick Hopkins, Reiner Ferreira, Andrew Lubahn (Kenny Teijsse 88’); Michael Stephens (Greg Jordan 85’), Tyler Gibson, Dagoberto (Kyle Bekker 75’); Pablo Dyego, Tom Heinemann
Subs Not Used: Alex Mangels, Karl Ouimette, Devon Sandoval, Maxim Tissot
Score:
NCFC: 1
SFD: 1
Goals:
NCFC: Austin da Luz 30’
SFD: Pablo Dyego 68’
Cautions:
NCFC: James Marcelin 5’, Renan Gorne 59’
SFD: —
Ejections:
NCFC: —
SFD: —
