Match Info:
North Carolina FC vs. Greenville Triumph
Saturday, April 16 at 7 p.m. ET
WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, NC
CARY, NC (April 14, 2022) – North Carolina FC will continue their regular season home campaign against Greenville Triumph SC for the first time this season on Saturday, April 16 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets to the match are available here, and the match will air live on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
North Carolina FC fell short of the Chattanooga Red Wolves at home last weekend by a scoreline of 3-1. Despite the result, the match was highlighted by Garrett McLaughlin’s second goal of the season, as well as Oalex Anderson’s second assist. Nico Rincon also made his debut with the North Carolina side, entering the match in the 89th minute of play.
“For me, it’s disappointing because I thought the first half was very well-played by our guys,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “We were organized, focused, and got a good goal in transition, keeping the clean sheet [during the first half]. There’s nothing more to do than learn from those moments [in the second half]. I think the positives are that the first half was what we wanted it to be.”
Garrett McLaughlin scored his second goal of the season during the contest, the scoring play beginning with Oalex Anderson receiving a ball into space and taking it to the endline. Cutting a pass back toward the penalty spot, Anderson connected with McLaughlin whose first touch was a shot past Carlos Avilez and into the lower 90 to give the home side the upper hand. McLaughlin’s goal marks the second time that Anderson and the striker have linked for a scoring play this season.
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Players to Watch
North Carolina FC – #3 Nelson Flores Blanco
Collecting 180 minutes of playing time in two appearances this season, Nelson Flores Blanco has assumed an integral role in the NCFC backline. The El Salvador international boasts a quick style of play, precise passing, and impressive field vision, creating scoring opportunities on and off the ball for the North Carolina side. As the squad hunts for their second win of the season, Blanco will look to bolster the NCFC defense against the advances of Greenville strikers Jake Keegan, Don Smart, and Jesus Ibarra.
Greenville Triumph SC – #9 Jake Keegan
Keegan rejoined the Triumph in December of 2021 following a season with Forward Madison. In his previous seasons with the South Carolina side, the striker notched 14 goals, a proven goalscorer with dangerous attacking ability. Intent on continuing to find the net for Greenville, the 30-year-old notched a goal in Greenville’s 2-0 win over the Oakland Roots in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on April 8. As the Triumph hope to claim their first win of the regular season, Keegan will look to lead the charge offensively.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will continue their home stretch as they take on the visiting Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC for the first time this season at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, April 30 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available here, and the match will air live on ESPN+.
