Match Info:
Local Broadcast (Cozi TV)
CARY, N.C. (April 19, 2024) — North Carolina FC return to USL Championship action for a third match in eight days, hosting New Mexico United on Saturday, April 20, at 7 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park to cap off a three-game homestand.
The game will be the team’s Inked Night with airbrush and temporary tattoo artists in Fan Fest, a megaphone giveaway and more. Tickets are available here.
North Carolina FC have never faced New Mexico United, despite both playing in the USL Championship during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The 2019 regular season only featured conference matchups and the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season split the league into regional groups.
NCFC enter Saturday’s contest fresh off a 1-0 midweek win over Carolina Core FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round. Julian Placias, who recently turned 18 years old, bagged his first goal for the team in the win, slotting home a cutback from Garrett McLaughlin following a scrappy play in the box.
The win was an opportunity for the team’s young guns to shine. In addition to Placias’ game-winning goal, 17-year-old defender Adrian Pelayo played the full 90 at center back to help keep the clean sheet and 16-year-old midfielder Kyrome Lumsden made his professional debut off the bench, putting in a good shift at wingback.
Goalkeeper Antonio Carrera made his first home start in the win and kept his first clean sheet since joining the team on loan from FC Dallas this offseason.
Scouting New Mexico
New Mexico United currently sit fourth in the Western Conference on 10 points from five games with wins over Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC, reigning league champion Phoenix Rising, and El Paso Locomotive FC. The lone loss of the season for New Mexico came at the hands of Eastern Conference leader Charleston Battery, who NCFC played to a scoreless draw in the season opener.
While New Mexico were on bye for Week 6 of USL Championship action, they will also be coming off a midweek Open Cup win. Harry Swartz, Daniel Bruce and Mukewelle Akale got the goals in the 3-1 win over the Lubbock Matadors.
New Mexico captain Alex Tambakis will be a familiar face for the NCFC faithful, with the Greek goalkeeper calling WakeMed Soccer Park home from 2018-2020. Tambakis made 77 league appearances for NCFC over his three seasons in Cary, the second most by any goalkeeper in team history, trailing only Akira Fitzgerald’s 84.
With seven seasons of experience in the USL’s topflight and a one-appearance stint in the MLS with Atlanta United, Tambakis is as experienced as they come in the USL and is off to a strong start this season. He leads the league in save percentage among goalkeepers with multiple games played with 83.33%, allowing just three goals with 15 saves.
New Mexico United assistant coach and academy director Matthew Watson is also set for a homecoming of sorts after racking up over 9,000 minutes across two stints with the then-Carolina RailHawks. Watson ranks in the team’s top-10 for minutes, appearances and assists.
All six of New Mexico United’s goals this season have come from different goal scorers. Greg Hurst leads the team in shots, but the varied attack could see any player pop up in the right place at the right time.
Arturo Astorga, Dayonn Harris and Marco Micaletto provide the creative engine for New Mexico, with each creating six chances this season.
Next Up
North Carolina FC will hit the road to take on Indy Eleven on Saturday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.