FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (August 1, 2021) – North Carolina FC defeated Fort Lauderdale CF 3-2 on Sunday night to secure their first win on the road, relying on an early goal from Jay Tee Kamara and a brace from Robert Kristo to bring their season point total to twelve. Two fouls in the box came at a cost to Fort Lauderdale in tonight’s match, as Kristo converted on both penalty kick attempts to win the match for the young squad. Edison Azcona and Modesto Mendez added a goal apiece for the opposing side, who would ultimately fall short as the final minutes ticked away.
“Really proud of this group and happy for them to have truly earned their first road win of the year,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “We have been on the wrong end of a lot of close games early in the season, so it’s important to see the progression and development of this group to get three points against a talented and well-coached group. Jay Tee was important for us from the start in getting the goal and being strong in our possession. Selmir [Miščić] and Cole Frame each were important in different stages of the game, and great for Robby to add two more goals. Also pleased with our team defending that helped preserve the win.”
Scoring Summary:
5’ Jay Tee Kamara – NCFC 1, FTL 0
Opening the scoring only five minutes into the match, North Carolina FC eased into an early lead courtesy of Jay Tee Kamara’s quick transition. The attack began in the defensive third, as Nelson Martinez stripped Sami Guediri of the ball with a slide tackle, rewarding Kamara’s run in the midfield. Leaving one defender in his wake and splitting two more, the midfielder buried his third goal of the season into the far post as North Carolina FC pulled ahead of Fort Lauderdale.
11’ Edison Azcona (Noah Allen) – NCFC 1, FTL 1
Fort Lauderdale answered six minutes later, with Edison Azcona bringing the home team level in the 11th minute. Noah Allen earned the assist, sending a pass toward the penalty spot to find Azcona in the box. Letting the pass fall to his left foot, Azcona netted his third goal of the season on his first touch to tie the game, 1-1.
29’ Robert Kristo (PK) – NCFC 2, FTL 1
North Carolina FC’s opportunity to edge back into the lead presented itself in the 29th minute as Selmir Miščić was forcibly taken down in the Fort Lauderdale box, drawing the penalty kick. Veteran Robert Kristo took the kick from the spot, keeping his composure and slipping a shot into the lower 90 to give North Carolina FC the upper hand, joining Kamara in adding his third goal of the season and needing only two matches to do so.
79’ Modesto Mendez (Dairon Reyes) – NCFC 2, FTL 2
Equalizing for a second time, Fort Lauderdale found their second goal on a corner kick in the 79th minute. Dairon Reyes took the kick, lofting in a ball that found Modesto Mendez at the far post. Capitalizing when it mattered most, Mendez headed home his first goal of the season to deadlock the match at two goals apiece.
90+1’ Robert Kristo (PK) – NCFC 3, FTL 2
Penalties would prove to be costly for Fort Lauderdale, as a breakaway from Cole Frame was halted abruptly with another foul in the box. The call earned North Carolina FC their second penalty kick of the night, to which Kristo would rise to the challenge. Finding the upper left corner of the net, Kristo was able to tally his second brace in as many games, sealing North Carolina FC’s first win on the road by a score of 3-2.
Match Notes:
– Robert Kristo added his second brace in as many games.
– Jay Tee Kamara tallied his third goal of the season in tonight’s match.
– North Carolina FC maintained 83% passing accuracy and 63% shot accuracy throughout the game to see the win through.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face the New England Revolution II for the first time this season on Thursday, August 5 at 7 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Nelson Flores, Shermaine Martina, Max Flick, Nelson Martinez, Selmir Miščić (Luis Arriaga — 60’), Peter Pearson (Pecka — 60’), Josh Coan (Malyk Hamilton — 69’), Nazmi Albadawi (Malick Mbaye — 90+2’), Jay Tee Kamara (Cole Frame — 69’), Robert Kristo
Subs Not Used: Nick Holliday, Marvin Mariche, Malick Mbaye, Thorn Simpson
FTL (4-4-2): Drake Callender, Brian Rosales, Aime Mabika, Noah Allen, Drew Hardin (George Acosta — 46’), Harvey Neville, Sami Guediri (Dairon Reyex — 61’), Venton Evans (Braxton Taghvai-Najib — 74’), Edison Azcona, Mitchell Curry (Shaan Hundal — 60’)
Subs Not Used: Luis Zamudio, Felipe Valencia, Ignacio Poplawski
Score:
NCFC: 3
FTL: 2
Goals:
NCFC: Jay Tee Kamara — 5’, Robert Kristo — 29’, 90+1’
FTL: Edison Azcona — 11’, Modesto Mendez — 79’
Cautions:
NCFC: Malyk Hamilton — 80’
FTL: George Acosta — 56’, Aime Mabika — 64’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
FTL: —
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (August 1, 2021) – North Carolina FC defeated Fort Lauderdale CF 3-2 on Sunday night to secure their first win on the road, relying on an early goal from Jay Tee Kamara and a brace from Robert Kristo to bring their season point total to twelve. Two fouls in the box came at a cost to Fort Lauderdale in tonight’s match, as Kristo converted on both penalty kick attempts to win the match for the young squad. Edison Azcona and Modesto Mendez added a goal apiece for the opposing side, who would ultimately fall short as the final minutes ticked away.
“Really proud of this group and happy for them to have truly earned their first road win of the year,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “We have been on the wrong end of a lot of close games early in the season, so it’s important to see the progression and development of this group to get three points against a talented and well-coached group. Jay Tee was important for us from the start in getting the goal and being strong in our possession. Selmir [MišÄiÄ] and Cole Frame each were important in different stages of the game, and great for Robby to add two more goals. Also pleased with our team defending that helped preserve the win.”
Scoring Summary:
5’ Jay Tee Kamara – NCFC 1, FTL 0
Opening the scoring only five minutes into the match, North Carolina FC eased into an early lead courtesy of Jay Tee Kamara’s quick transition. The attack began in the defensive third, as Nelson Martinez stripped Sami Guediri of the ball with a slide tackle, rewarding Kamara’s run in the midfield. Leaving one defender in his wake and splitting two more, the midfielder buried his third goal of the season into the far post as North Carolina FC pulled ahead of Fort Lauderdale.
11’ Edison Azcona (Noah Allen) – NCFC 1, FTL 1
Fort Lauderdale answered six minutes later, with Edison Azcona bringing the home team level in the 11th minute. Noah Allen earned the assist, sending a pass toward the penalty spot to find Azcona in the box. Letting the pass fall to his left foot, Azcona netted his third goal of the season on his first touch to tie the game, 1-1.
29’ Robert Kristo (PK) – NCFC 2, FTL 1
North Carolina FC’s opportunity to edge back into the lead presented itself in the 29th minute as Selmir MišÄiÄ was forcibly taken down in the Fort Lauderdale box, drawing the penalty kick. Veteran Robert Kristo took the kick from the spot, keeping his composure and slipping a shot into the lower 90 to give North Carolina FC the upper hand, joining Kamara in adding his third goal of the season and needing only two matches to do so.
79’ Modesto Mendez (Dairon Reyes) – NCFC 2, FTL 2
Equalizing for a second time, Fort Lauderdale found their second goal on a corner kick in the 79th minute. Dairon Reyes took the kick, lofting in a ball that found Modesto Mendez at the far post. Capitalizing when it mattered most, Mendez headed home his first goal of the season to deadlock the match at two goals apiece.
90+1’ Robert Kristo (PK) – NCFC 3, FTL 2
Penalties would prove to be costly for Fort Lauderdale, as a breakaway from Cole Frame was halted abruptly with another foul in the box. The call earned North Carolina FC their second penalty kick of the night, to which Kristo would rise to the challenge. Finding the upper left corner of the net, Kristo was able to tally his second brace in as many games, sealing North Carolina FC’s first win on the road by a score of 3-2.
Match Notes:
– Robert Kristo added his second brace in as many games.
– Jay Tee Kamara tallied his third goal of the season in tonight’s match.
– North Carolina FC maintained 83% passing accuracy and 63% shot accuracy throughout the game to see the win through.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face the New England Revolution II for the first time this season on Thursday, August 5 at 7 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Nelson Flores, Shermaine Martina, Max Flick, Nelson Martinez, Selmir MišÄiÄ (Luis Arriaga — 60’), Peter Pearson (Pecka — 60’), Josh Coan (Malyk Hamilton — 69’), Nazmi Albadawi (Malick Mbaye — 90+2’), Jay Tee Kamara (Cole Frame — 69’), Robert Kristo
Subs Not Used: Nick Holliday, Marvin Mariche, Malick Mbaye, Thorn Simpson
FTL (4-4-2): Drake Callender, Brian Rosales, Aime Mabika, Noah Allen, Drew Hardin (George Acosta — 46’), Harvey Neville, Sami Guediri (Dairon Reyex — 61’), Venton Evans (Braxton Taghvai-Najib — 74’), Edison Azcona, Mitchell Curry (Shaan Hundal — 60’)
Subs Not Used: Luis Zamudio, Felipe Valencia, Ignacio Poplawski
Score:
NCFC: 3
FTL: 2
Goals:
NCFC: Jay Tee Kamara — 5’, Robert Kristo — 29’, 90+1’
FTL: Edison Azcona — 11’, Modesto Mendez — 79’
Cautions:
NCFC: Malyk Hamilton — 80’
FTL: George Acosta — 56’, Aime Mabika — 64’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
FTL: —
