Match Recap: NCFC Bested by Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 2-1
CARY, NC (April 30, 2022) — North Carolina FC fell to the visiting Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 2-1, on Saturday night. Oalex Anderson added his first goal of the season during the contest, and Irvin Parra and Daniel Robles each added a goal apiece to secure three points for the visiting side. Between the two sides, ten yellow cards were administered, indicative of the physicality of the match through the full 90 minutes.
“I thought we were competitive throughout the game,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “It took us a little while to get going after the first ten minutes, and I thought we were the better team for the vast majority of the first half and created more dangerous chances in the second half. It’s disappointing to not at least get a draw. We have a good mentality about us, being able to stay in the game, carve something out and get it back, so I was pleased with that.”
The Hailstorm drew first blood in tonight’s contest, capitalizing on a free kick opportunity from outside the eighteen. Parra was on the receiving end of the set piece, redirecting a header into the upper 90 and narrowly missing the fingertips of Will Pulisic’s diving save attempt. His second of the season, Parra’s goal gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage in the 18th minute.
Anderson responded with a goal for the home side just five minutes later, intercepting a drop pass from a Hailstorm defender, taking a touch out in front and burying the equalizer past Colorado goalkeeper Thomas Olsen to deadlock the score at 1-1. Later, in the 80th minute, midfielder Daniel Robles netted a go-ahead goal for the Hailstorm, and the 2-1 scoreline held through the remainder of the match despite several chances for NCFC to equalize a second time.
Tonight’s match completes the slate of contests scheduled during the month of April, and the squad will have the opportunity to hunt for three points on the road against FC Tucson next weekend.
Up Next: North Carolina gets back to the action on the road at FC Tucson next Saturday, May 7, at 10 p.m. ET. NCFC’s full 2022 USL League One regular-season schedule can be found here.
Match Notes:
– NCFC forward Oalex Anderson netted his first NCFC goal.
– There were ten yellow cards administered between the two sides in tonight’s match.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-4-2): Will Pulisic, Christian Lue Young, Jordan Skelton ©, Gustavo Fernandes, Max Flick, Raheem Somersall (Showkat Tahir — 86’), Luis Arriaga, Jaden Servania, Nelson Martinez (Cole Frame — 46’), Garrett McLaughlin, Oalex Anderson (Pecka — 74’)
Subs Not Used: Nicholas Holliday, Britton Fischer, Drew Kerr, John McDowell
NCO (4-4-2): Thomas Olsen, Arthur Rogers, Leo Folla, Rob Cornwall, Denso Ulysse (Destan Norman — 46’), Shane McFaul (Danny Robles — 57’), Jerry Desdunes (Mark Hernandez — 64’), Nordei Nortey, Stefan Lukic (Lachlan McLean — 64’), Daniel Scally, Irvin Parra (Trevor Amann — 74’)
Subs Not Used: Brecc Evans, Daniel Faundez
Score:
NCFC: 1
NCO: 2
Goals:
NCFC: Oalex Anderson — 23’
NCO: Irvin Parra — 18’, Danny Robles — 80’
Cautions:
NCFC: Max Flick — 17’, Gustavo Fernandes — 81’, Pecka — 88’, Christian Lue Young — 88’
NCO: Denso Ulysse — 36’, Nortei Nortey — 51’, Arthur Rogers — 65’, Mark Hernandez — 88’, Daniel Scally — 90+2’, Robert Cornwall — 90+6’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NCO: —
