CARY (March 30, 2018)– For Mike Smith, it was something he could check off his bucket list.
The chance to see the U.S. Men’s National Team play in person was too good of an opportunity to pass up, so he made sure to secure tickets to the big game against Paraguay for himself, his father, his son and one of his son’s friends.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and have just never had the opportunity,” said Smith, a supporter of North Carolina FC and the NC Courage. “To have it right here in our backyard is pretty unbelievable.”
CARY (March 30, 2018)– For Mike Smith, it was something he could check off his bucket list.
The chance to see the U.S. Men’s National Team play in person was too good of an opportunity to pass up, so he made sure to secure tickets to the big game against Paraguay for himself, his father, his son and one of his son’s friends.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and have just never had the opportunity,” said Smith, a supporter of North Carolina FC and the NC Courage. “To have it right here in our backyard is pretty unbelievable.”
Smith was one of the nearly 10,000 fans in attendance Tuesday night as the USMNT defeated Paraguay 1-0 in front of a sell-out crowd at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Those in attendance were treated to an impressive performance from the U.S., which showcased a talented group of young players ready to make a name for themselves while playing at the home of the largest youth-to-pro soccer club in the country.
The match was the USMNT’s first in Cary since an April 2006 friendly against Jamaica, and the crowd was more than ready to see the Stars and Stripes back in action in the Triangle for the first time in nearly 12 years.
For that matter, everyone at NCFC and the Courage was excited about the chance to host the USMNT, too.
“It’s a special occasion hosting the men’s national team,” NCFC and Courage president Curt Johnson said. “Once every 10 years, right? We’ll do it again in 10 more years, hopefully before.”
From the opening kick to the final whistle, the U.S. players were treated to a lively atmosphere. Within the opening minutes, the sounds of “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” were heard throughout the park, and near the end of the first half, the excitement became palpable when Marky Delgado played in Tyler Adams with a lofted ball.
As Adams made his approach on goal, the stands erupted once he was taken down by Paraguay goalkeeper Gatito Fernandez, winning a penalty kick in doing so.
Moments later, Bobby Wood provided the goal that everyone craved, one good enough to see the U.S. earn its first win of 2018.
“The crowd … unbelievable,” Adams said. “Anytime you play in the U.S., it’s an honor to have the fans behind you, and the American Outlaws are amazing. The energy tonight was unbelievable.”
The game itself put a bow on what was a productive week in Cary for the USMNT and interim head coach Dave Sarachan.
Looking to find an identity as a team with many new faces around, the U.S. used its time in Cary to build chemistry among each other.
“It's been a really good week in Carolina,” Sarachan said. “Good effort all week, and the guys have gotten to know each other on and off the field.”
From the perspective of NCFC and the Courage, the week was also a success and served as the latest reminder that soccer in the Triangle is only becoming bigger and better.
The match against Paraguay marked the second time in five months that a U.S. national team came to play at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, as the U.S. Women’s National Team did so last October against South Korea.
“The best thing about our market is that it’s growing,” NCFC and Courage owner Stephen Malik said. “And so, we’re going to look better and better over time. An event like tonight, where we do sell it out and have a great atmosphere here in the stadium – that only helps us.”
A similar sentiment was shared by Smith, who was thrilled about the opportunity for “three generations” of soccer players in his family to see the USMNT play in person for the first time.
“All the chatter about soccer in North Carolina, you never heard that before Steve Malik came,” Smith said. “Now, people are recognizing Raleigh as a place that’s growing as far as the soccer support. Just to have the men’s team come here is a sign of that.”
Smith was one of the nearly 10,000 fans in attendance Tuesday night as the USMNT defeated Paraguay 1-0 in front of a sell-out crowd at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Those in attendance were treated to an impressive performance from the U.S., which showcased a talented group of young players ready to make a name for themselves while playing at the home of the largest youth-to-pro soccer club in the country.
The match was the USMNT’s first in Cary since an April 2006 friendly against Jamaica, and the crowd was more than ready to see the Stars and Stripes back in action in the Triangle for the first time in nearly 12 years.
For that matter, everyone at NCFC and the Courage was excited about the chance to host the USMNT, too.
“It’s a special occasion hosting the men’s national team,” NCFC and Courage president Curt Johnson said. “Once every 10 years, right? We’ll do it again in 10 more years, hopefully before.”
From the opening kick to the final whistle, the U.S. players were treated to a lively atmosphere. Within the opening minutes, the sounds of “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” were heard throughout the park, and near the end of the first half, the excitement became palpable when Marky Delgado played in Tyler Adams with a lofted ball.
As Adams made his approach on goal, the stands erupted once he was taken down by Paraguay goalkeeper Gatito Fernandez, winning a penalty kick in doing so.
Moments later, Bobby Wood provided the goal that everyone craved, one good enough to see the U.S. earn its first win of 2018.
“The crowd … unbelievable,” Adams said. “Anytime you play in the U.S., it’s an honor to have the fans behind you, and the American Outlaws are amazing. The energy tonight was unbelievable.”
The game itself put a bow on what was a productive week in Cary for the USMNT and interim head coach Dave Sarachan.
Looking to find an identity as a team with many new faces around, the U.S. used its time in Cary to build chemistry among each other.
“It’s been a really good week in Carolina,” Sarachan said. “Good effort all week, and the guys have gotten to know each other on and off the field.”
From the perspective of NCFC and the Courage, the week was also a success and served as the latest reminder that soccer in the Triangle is only becoming bigger and better.
The match against Paraguay marked the second time in five months that a U.S. national team came to play at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, as the U.S. Women’s National Team did so last October against South Korea.
“The best thing about our market is that it’s growing,” NCFC and Courage owner Stephen Malik said. “And so, we’re going to look better and better over time. An event like tonight, where we do sell it out and have a great atmosphere here in the stadium – that only helps us.”
A similar sentiment was shared by Smith, who was thrilled about the opportunity for “three generations” of soccer players in his family to see the USMNT play in person for the first time.
“All the chatter about soccer in North Carolina, you never heard that before Steve Malik came,” Smith said. “Now, people are recognizing Raleigh as a place that’s growing as far as the soccer support. Just to have the men’s team come here is a sign of that.”
