Match Preview: North Carolina FC to Host Central Valley Fuego FC in Doubleheader
Match Info:
North Carolina FC vs. Central Valley Fuego FC
Saturday, August 13 at 5 p.m. ET
WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, NC
CARY, NC (August 12, 2022) – On the heels of a thrilling win over Forward Madison FC, North Carolina FC will return to action against Central Valley Fuego FC on Saturday, August 13 at 5 p.m. ET in a doubleheader with the North Carolina Courage. Following the conclusion of NCFC’s match, the Courage will face the Kansas City Current at 8 p.m. ET. Tickets to both matches are available for $20, and can be purchased here.
Last Time Out
North Carolina FC picked up three points against the visiting Forward Madison on Wednesday night, rallying to defeat the Flamingoes in the final minute of stoppage time behind goals from Garrett McLaughlin and Christian Lue Young. Likewise helping NCFC to victory was goalkeeper Nick Holliday, who registered three key saves throughout the contest to deny Forward Madison a favorable result. Lue Young’s goal was his first with the club, and McLaughlin added his ninth goal of the season, setting a new career-high number of goals scored in a single season.
“I had written up on the board [in the locker room] before the game that you have to demand that you’re going to win,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “No matter how long it takes, you have to find a way to win, and I thought that’s exactly what they did. To stay positive throughout missed chance after missed chance and ultimately create the opportunity at the end to win the game, I think they totally deserve that. I’m happy for them.”
“I’m happy to help the team win, we’ve had a tough run of games where we haven’t picked up as many points as we would have liked,” Holliday said. “The guys showed great character to bounce back from the first goal and come out with the win.”
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Players to Watch
North Carolina FC – #2 Christian Lue Young
Scoring his first goal with NCFC to seal their victory over the visiting Forward Madison, Lue Young has collected 18 appearances and 1,535 minutes for the North Carolina side this season. The defender has also registered an impressive 17 key passes, 11 successful crosses, 49 clearances and 27 interceptions, thrice earning Team of the Week honors throughout the year for his efforts. As NCFC looks to add a second consecutive win over their West Coast opponents, Lue Young will aim to repeat his standout performance against Madison, contributing on both sides of the ball and getting upfield to create scoring chances.
Central Valley Fuego FC – #20 Villyan Bijev
Bijev has tallied five goals and two assists on the season, maintaining 52.8% shooting accuracy and cementing his status as one of Fuego’s biggest drivers on the attack. The Bulgarian footballer was named the USL League One Player of the Month in May, continuing to impress since earning the award. Hoping to snap their three game skid in Saturday’s match against NCFC, Fuego will rely on Bijev to catalyze scoring plays and break down the NCFC backline as the California side hunts for three points.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face Union Omaha on Saturday, August 20 at Werner Park in Papillon, NE. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will stream on ESPN+.