The RailHawks hosted Puebla FC in an international friendly match at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday afternoon. With goals from Conor Donovan and Tiyi Shipalane the RailHawks defeated the two-time Mexican Champion 2-1.
“Great team result tonight. It was good for our guys to get a high quality match in between our U.S. Open Cup matches,” said RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke. “Puebla showed they are a very good side and it is good to get another victory.”
Donovan opened the scoring with a header in the 38th minute on an assist from RailHawks U-23’s member Gabe Latigue. The 18-year old Donovan appeared on the RailHawks game roster for the second time, the first in a NASL league match on November 2, 2013, and this time earned a starting spot in the RailHawks defense. Donovan has become a regular for the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team and most recently played for the C.A. RailHawks Academy and RailHawks U-23’s programs.
Clarke commented on Donovan’s performance. “He was outstanding tonight. Once he got into a rhythm he defended well, made some great one-on-one tackles and got the goal. For a kid of his age to come in against a professional team from Mexico and perform to that level. It was enjoyable to watch, he has a bright future ahead of him.”
In the 66th minute of play, the RailHawks Nick Zimmerman collected the ball at midfield and played a perfectly timed ball to a streaking Shipalane. Shipalane took a skillful touch around the Puebla goalkeeper and placed the ball into the open net for the 2-0 lead. The RailHawks couldn’t hold onto the shutout when Puebla forward Francisco Acuna fired a shot into the RailHawks goal in the 88th minute to finish the match at 2-1.
The RailHawks will now turn their attention to Wednesday, July 9th when they host Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas in the Quarterfinal Round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The match will be played on WakeMed Soccer Park’s main stadium and will kick off at 7:30pm ET. Wednesday night’s winner will advance to the Semifinal Round of the annual knockout-style cup competition that includes all U.S.-based professional soccer teams and qualified amateur teams. For ticket information for Wednesday’s match call the RailHawks Box Office at (919) 459-8144 or visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com .
BOX SCORE
LINEUPS
CAR: GK Deric, D Bentick (Tobin, 67), D Osaki, D Donovan (Au. King, 67), D Burt (Willis, 77), M Millington (Davidson, 67), M Zimmerman (Martinez, 67), M Cyrino (Elizondo, 67), M Latigue (Albadawi, 67), M Figueroa (Shipalane, 63), F Aa. King (Jackson, 67);
PFC: GK Fraustu, D Juraidini (Acuna, 77), D Barrera, D Orozco, D Esqueda, D de Luna, M Mejia, M Espinoza (Perez, 80), F Villalobos, F de Jesus (Costa, 71), F Lorona;
GOALS
CAR: Donovan (Latigue), 38; Shipalane (Zimmerman) 66;
PFC: Acuna, 88;
The RailHawks hosted Puebla FC in an international friendly match at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday afternoon. With goals from Conor Donovan and Tiyi Shipalane the RailHawks defeated the two-time Mexican Champion 2-1.
“Great team result tonight. It was good for our guys to get a high quality match in between our U.S. Open Cup matches,” said RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke. “Puebla showed they are a very good side and it is good to get another victory.”
Donovan opened the scoring with a header in the 38th minute on an assist from RailHawks U-23’s member Gabe Latigue. The 18-year old Donovan appeared on the RailHawks game roster for the second time, the first in a NASL league match on November 2, 2013, and this time earned a starting spot in the RailHawks defense. Donovan has become a regular for the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team and most recently played for the C.A. RailHawks Academy and RailHawks U-23’s programs.
Clarke commented on Donovan’s performance. “He was outstanding tonight. Once he got into a rhythm he defended well, made some great one-on-one tackles and got the goal. For a kid of his age to come in against a professional team from Mexico and perform to that level. It was enjoyable to watch, he has a bright future ahead of him.”
In the 66th minute of play, the RailHawks Nick Zimmerman collected the ball at midfield and played a perfectly timed ball to a streaking Shipalane. Shipalane took a skillful touch around the Puebla goalkeeper and placed the ball into the open net for the 2-0 lead. The RailHawks couldn’t hold onto the shutout when Puebla forward Francisco Acuna fired a shot into the RailHawks goal in the 88th minute to finish the match at 2-1.
The RailHawks will now turn their attention to Wednesday, July 9th when they host Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas in the Quarterfinal Round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The match will be played on WakeMed Soccer Park’s main stadium and will kick off at 7:30pm ET. Wednesday night’s winner will advance to the Semifinal Round of the annual knockout-style cup competition that includes all U.S.-based professional soccer teams and qualified amateur teams. For ticket information for Wednesday’s match call the RailHawks Box Office at (919) 459-8144 or visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com .
BOX SCORE
LINEUPS
CAR: GK Deric, D Bentick (Tobin, 67), D Osaki, D Donovan (Au. King, 67), D Burt (Willis, 77), M Millington (Davidson, 67), M Zimmerman (Martinez, 67), M Cyrino (Elizondo, 67), M Latigue (Albadawi, 67), M Figueroa (Shipalane, 63), F Aa. King (Jackson, 67);
PFC: GK Fraustu, D Juraidini (Acuna, 77), D Barrera, D Orozco, D Esqueda, D de Luna, M Mejia, M Espinoza (Perez, 80), F Villalobos, F de Jesus (Costa, 71), F Lorona;
GOALS
CAR: Donovan (Latigue), 38; Shipalane (Zimmerman) 66;
PFC: Acuna, 88;