CARY, N.C. (Oct. 5, 2019) – Facing the highest-scoring offense in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, playoff-bound North Carolina FC flipped the script Saturday night and won 2-0 over New York Red Bulls II at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Goals by forwards Donovan Ewolo and Robbie Kristo secured NCFC’s second consecutive victory and 10th overall at home this season, as head coach Dave Sarachan’s team improved to 15W-9L-8D (53 points). With two matches remaining in the regular season, NCFC holds seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
“I’m very pleased with the commitment of our 11 guys to keep a clean sheet,” Sarachan said. “That was important tonight and they did. It was a real, kind of a playoff-feel type game, where one play could swing it one way or the other. We beat a very good team tonight.”
Solid in goal as has been the case all year, Alex Tambakis matched his season-high with six saves for NCFC, two of which kept NYRB II scoreless in the game’s opening stages.
Instead, it was NCFC that struck for an early goal in the seventh minute. After receiving a diagonal, cross-field pass from center back Alex Comsia, midfielder Manny Perez made a run on goal and was dragged down by NYRB II’s Preston Kilwien, earning a penalty kick.
Moments later, Ewolo stepped up to the spot and saw his kick initially saved by opposing goalkeeper Evan Louro. Still calm, Ewolo collected the rebound and found the back of the net for his eighth goal of the year.
Throughout the first half, both teams exchanged a series of scoring chances, and it was midfielder Ben Speas who nearly doubled NCFC’s advantage three minutes into stoppage time, forcing a save by the alert Louro.
In possession of a one-goal advantage at the break, NCFC started the second half the same way it did the first with another quick goal. This time it came through Kristo, who’s made a habit of scoring at WakeMed Soccer Park in recent weeks. Set up by midfielder Nazmi Albadawi, Kristo finished at the near post for his eighth goal of the year, making it a 2-0 game.
From that point on, the NCFC defense continued to stymie an NYRB II attack with plenty of firepower in forwards Tom Barlow and Mathias Jørgensen.
By night’s end, the visitors had been shut out for just the fifth time this season, as NCFC recorded its ninth clean sheet of the year.
Fact to Know
On a night where NCFC honored club legends Kupono Low and Tiyi Shipalane, it was Albadawi who tied Shipalane for first place on the club’s all-time assists leaderboard when he played a role in Kristo’s 50th-minute goal. Albadawi and Shipalane each have 23 assists for the club.
Notes
– NCFC improved to 10W-1L-5D at home this season. NCFC has outscored opponents 39-15 in 16 matches at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in 2019.
– With their goals Saturday, Donovan Ewolo and Robbie Kristo are tied for second on the team with eight tallies apiece. Kristo replaced Ewolo in the 37th minute, as Ewolo was forced to exit due to injury.
– NCFC’s youth-to-pro pipeline was on full display Saturday as NCFC Academy products DJ Taylor, Dre Fortune and Manny Perez were named in the starting lineup, as were former NCFC U23 standouts Nazmi Albadawi and Alex Comsia. Caleb Duvernay, who played for both the Academy and NCFC U-23, was named to the bench.
-Robbie Kristo has scored in four of NCFC's past five home matches, including the last three.
– Nazmi Albadawi recorded his fourth assist of the season and the 23rd of his NCFC career, moving him into a tie with Tiyi Shipalane for the most in club history.
– NCFC completed a season sweep of NYRB II. NCFC is 6W-1L-0D against the teams who entered this week in the top four spots in the Eastern Conference (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Nashville SC, NYRB II, Tampa Bay Rowdies).
– NCFC improved to 11W-0L-2D when leading at halftime.
– Robbie Kristo, Steven Miller and Yamikani Chester appeared as substitutes for NCFC.
Looking Ahead
After traveling to face Nashville SC on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET, NCFC returns home for its regular-season finale as it hosts Saint Louis FC on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:00 p.m. ET for Fan Appreciation and Hamilton Night. The team will also celebrate the career of team captain Austin da Luz, who is retiring following the season. For tickets and information please visit www.www.northcarolinafc.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-1-4-1): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen ©, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, DJ Taylor; Graham Smith; Ben Speas (Steven Miller, 65’), Dre Fortune, Nazmi Albadawi, Manny Perez (Yamikani Chester, 89’); Donovan Ewolo (Robert Kristo, 37’)
Subs not used: Darrin McLeod, Austin da Luz, Victor Igbekoyi, Caleb Duvernay
NY (4-4-2): Evan Louro; John Tolkin (Janos Loebe, 73’), Preston Kilwien (Allen Yanes, 65’), Jordan Scarlett, Rece Buckmaster; Chris Lema ©, Jean Koffi (Ben Mines, 81’), Vincent Bezecourt, Jared Stroud; Mathias Jorgensen, Tom Barlow
Subs not used: Rashid Nuhu, Kyle Zajec, Sean McSherry, Sebastian Elney,
Score:
NCFC: 1
NY: 0
Goals:
NCFC: Donovan Ewolo (Unassisted, 7’), Robert Kristo (Nazmi Albadawi, 50’)
NY:
Cautions:
NCFC: —
NY: Preston Kilwien 7’, Jordan Scarlett 87’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NY: —
Attendance: 4,293
CARY, N.C. (Oct. 5, 2019) – Facing the highest-scoring offense in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, playoff-bound North Carolina FC flipped the script Saturday night and won 2-0 over New York Red Bulls II at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Goals by forwards Donovan Ewolo and Robbie Kristo secured NCFC’s second consecutive victory and 10th overall at home this season, as head coach Dave Sarachan’s team improved to 15W-9L-8D (53 points). With two matches remaining in the regular season, NCFC holds seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
“I’m very pleased with the commitment of our 11 guys to keep a clean sheet,” Sarachan said. “That was important tonight and they did. It was a real, kind of a playoff-feel type game, where one play could swing it one way or the other. We beat a very good team tonight.”
Solid in goal as has been the case all year, Alex Tambakis matched his season-high with six saves for NCFC, two of which kept NYRB II scoreless in the game’s opening stages.
Instead, it was NCFC that struck for an early goal in the seventh minute. After receiving a diagonal, cross-field pass from center back Alex Comsia, midfielder Manny Perez made a run on goal and was dragged down by NYRB II’s Preston Kilwien, earning a penalty kick.
Moments later, Ewolo stepped up to the spot and saw his kick initially saved by opposing goalkeeper Evan Louro. Still calm, Ewolo collected the rebound and found the back of the net for his eighth goal of the year.
Throughout the first half, both teams exchanged a series of scoring chances, and it was midfielder Ben Speas who nearly doubled NCFC’s advantage three minutes into stoppage time, forcing a save by the alert Louro.
In possession of a one-goal advantage at the break, NCFC started the second half the same way it did the first with another quick goal. This time it came through Kristo, who’s made a habit of scoring at WakeMed Soccer Park in recent weeks. Set up by midfielder Nazmi Albadawi, Kristo finished at the near post for his eighth goal of the year, making it a 2-0 game.
From that point on, the NCFC defense continued to stymie an NYRB II attack with plenty of firepower in forwards Tom Barlow and Mathias Jørgensen.
By night’s end, the visitors had been shut out for just the fifth time this season, as NCFC recorded its ninth clean sheet of the year.
Fact to Know
On a night where NCFC honored club legends Kupono Low and Tiyi Shipalane, it was Albadawi who tied Shipalane for first place on the club’s all-time assists leaderboard when he played a role in Kristo’s 50th-minute goal. Albadawi and Shipalane each have 23 assists for the club.
Notes
– NCFC improved to 10W-1L-5D at home this season. NCFC has outscored opponents 39-15 in 16 matches at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in 2019.
– With their goals Saturday, Donovan Ewolo and Robbie Kristo are tied for second on the team with eight tallies apiece. Kristo replaced Ewolo in the 37th minute, as Ewolo was forced to exit due to injury.
– NCFC’s youth-to-pro pipeline was on full display Saturday as NCFC Academy products DJ Taylor, Dre Fortune and Manny Perez were named in the starting lineup, as were former NCFC U23 standouts Nazmi Albadawi and Alex Comsia. Caleb Duvernay, who played for both the Academy and NCFC U-23, was named to the bench.
-Robbie Kristo has scored in four of NCFC’s past five home matches, including the last three.
– Nazmi Albadawi recorded his fourth assist of the season and the 23rd of his NCFC career, moving him into a tie with Tiyi Shipalane for the most in club history.
– NCFC completed a season sweep of NYRB II. NCFC is 6W-1L-0D against the teams who entered this week in the top four spots in the Eastern Conference (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Nashville SC, NYRB II, Tampa Bay Rowdies).
– NCFC improved to 11W-0L-2D when leading at halftime.
– Robbie Kristo, Steven Miller and Yamikani Chester appeared as substitutes for NCFC.
Looking Ahead
After traveling to face Nashville SC on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET, NCFC returns home for its regular-season finale as it hosts Saint Louis FC on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:00 p.m. ET for Fan Appreciation and Hamilton Night. The team will also celebrate the career of team captain Austin da Luz, who is retiring following the season. For tickets and information please visit www.www.northcarolinafc.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-1-4-1): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen ©, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, DJ Taylor; Graham Smith; Ben Speas (Steven Miller, 65’), Dre Fortune, Nazmi Albadawi, Manny Perez (Yamikani Chester, 89’); Donovan Ewolo (Robert Kristo, 37’)
Subs not used: Darrin McLeod, Austin da Luz, Victor Igbekoyi, Caleb Duvernay
NY (4-4-2): Evan Louro; John Tolkin (Janos Loebe, 73’), Preston Kilwien (Allen Yanes, 65’), Jordan Scarlett, Rece Buckmaster; Chris Lema ©, Jean Koffi (Ben Mines, 81’), Vincent Bezecourt, Jared Stroud; Mathias Jorgensen, Tom Barlow
Subs not used: Rashid Nuhu, Kyle Zajec, Sean McSherry, Sebastian Elney,
Score:
NCFC: 1
NY: 0
Goals:
NCFC: Donovan Ewolo (Unassisted, 7’), Robert Kristo (Nazmi Albadawi, 50’)
NY:
Cautions:
NCFC: —
NY: Preston Kilwien 7’, Jordan Scarlett 87’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NY: —
Attendance: 4,293
