CARY, N.C. (July 6, 2024) — North Carolina FC struck four times in the second half for a come-from-behind win, 4-1, over Miami FC in USL Championship play Saturday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. North Carolina improves to 5-6-6 for 21 points from 17 fixtures.
Conway scored twice in a 90 second span to pull the home side ahead for good. First he one-timed home a rocket insert from Louis Perez to go up a goal, then pressed off the restart and stole the ball off a Miami defender, deked said defender, and placed a left-footed missile into the far top corner. Oalex Anderson polished off the scoring with a penalty conversion, after he won the foul in the box, with just over 10 minutes left in the match.
The visitors grabbed the lead midway through the opening half when a long ball from midfield bounced perfectly for Khalid Balogun behind the NCFC defense with Jake McGuire off his line and the finish was enough for Balogun to open his scoring account in 2024. North Carolina answered five minutes into the second half when super sub Anderson played a perfect pass into the box for Rafa Mentzingen to finish and level things.
The win was the first for North Carolina this season when the opposition scored first and clinched a sweep of the season series with Miami.
Match Notes
- Jake McGuire and Mikey Maldonado both made their 100th USL appearance (USL Championship and League One combined).
- Kickoff was delayed 30 minutes to 8:06 p.m. ET due to weather.
- Defender Ezra Armstrong was not available due to a red card suspension.
Up Next:
North Carolina FC will head to the West Coast to take on Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday, July 13, at 11 p.m. ET at Heart Health Park in Sacramento. The match will stream live on CBS Sports’ Golazo Network.
Box Score:
NCFC (3-4-2-1): Jake McGuire, Lamar Batista, Bryce Washington, Paco Craig ©, Rafa Mentzingen, Mikey Maldonado (Raheem Somersall – 78’), Collin Martin (Jaden Servania – 82’), Shaft Brewer (Justin Malou – 90’), Evan Conway, Jacori Hayes (Oalex Anderson – 46’), Louis Perez (Rodrigo Da Costa – 82’)
Subs Not Used: Akira Fitzgerald, Daniel Navarro, Oalex Anderson, Xavier Holloway, Finn Sundstrom
MIA (4-4-2): Felipe Rodriguez, Daniel Barbir, Mujeeb Murana, Daltyn Knutson (Jordan Ayimbila – 61’), Alejandro Mitrano, Nicolás Cardona ©, Rocco Genzano (Manuel Botta – 78’), Gabriel Cabral, Khalid Balogun, Frank López, Allen Gavilanes
Subs Not Used: Samuel Biek, Luisinho, Daniel Gagliardi,, Michael Lawrence, Marco Santana
Score:
NCFC: 4
MIA: 1
Goals:
NCFC: R. Mentzingen – 50’ (Anderson); E. Conway – 63’ (Perez), 64’; O. Anderson – 77’ (P)
MIA: K. Balogun – 18’
Cautions:
NCFC: P. Craig – 11’; R. Da Costa – 90+3’
MIA: D. Knutson – 7’; N. Cardona – 45+2’; A. Mitrano – 57’; S. Biek – 66’
Ejections:
NCFC: –
MIA: –
Attendance: 2,161