CARY, N.C. (May 31, 2017) – North Carolina FC emerged victorious in the North Carolina Derby on Wednesday night, bouncing the Charlotte Independence from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 4-1 win at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The win guarantees a fourth-round match up against MLS side Houston Dynamo at home on Wednesday, June 14th.
“It was a great result,” said head coach Colin Clarke. “To start with, I thought we dominated from the first whistle. We came out, started very well, possessed the ball, moved the ball, created opportunities, got the first goal and it was a very pleasing performance all around. To win the game 4-1 was nice.
“I think there has been a good rivalry here for quite a few years.,” added Clarke. “There are a few players that have gone both ways and I think part of our buildup, was that we wanted to be the best team in North Carolina.”
James Marcelin scored in the first half, Nazmi Albadawi added two goals in the second half and Connor Tobin recorded the final goal to round out the scoring for NCFC.
North Carolina FC continued its trend of scoring early at home with a goal from Marcelin in the 23rd minute. The center defender won a header off of Lance Laing’s corner kick and nodded it past the Independence keeper for the early goal and his second of the year. The goal marked NCFC’s fifth tally in the first 25 minutes of action at home this season.
NCFC continued to have the lion’s share of possession and chances created throughout the first half, nearly extending its lead with a low strike from Austin da Luz in the 24th minute and a free header from da Luz in the box in the 44th minute.
Charlotte’s best chances of the half came in the 35th and 36th minutes, as Brian Sylvestre parried initial shots away from goal, and got help from NCFC defenders to end the threat.
NCFC extended its high pressure into the second half and scored again in the 51st minute. Albadawi found space in the box and tucked away a perfectly placed shot into the far corner for his second goal this season and four Open Cup goal of his career.
The visitors' attacking style played into the hands of NCFC’s strategy, as the host sat back and waited for its chance to counter.
The clinical counter attacks produced a pair of quick goals in the 82nd and 83rd minutes to give NCFC a 4-0 lead. Albadawi completed his brace after chipping the keeper inside the box and Tobin ventured into the attack to score with a rocket into the top corner. da Luz provided a pair of long-range passes to earn assists on both late goals.
Charlotte prevented the shutout after earning a penalty kick in stoppage time, which was converted by Alex Martinez to bring the match to its final score of 4-1.
Up Next:
NCFC continues its NASL season on Sunday, June 4 as they face the New York Cosmos at 4 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Visit NCFCTIX.com for tickets.
Notes:
- Former college teammates met as rivals on the field tonight. In 2009, Billy Schuler and Enzo Martinez both played for UNC-Chapel Hill and in 2012-13 Nazmi Albadawi and Alex Martiniez starred for NC State.
- For the first time this season, Connor Tobin started at left back
- James Marcelin scored a header on a Lance Laing assist for his second goal of the year
- Connor Tobin scored his first goal of the year on Austin da Luz’s second assist of the night
- Nazmi Albadawi scored a brace for the fourth and fifth Open Cup goals of his career on assists from Saeed Robinson and Austin da Luz
- North Carolina FC knocked the Charlotte Independence out of the Open Cup for the second straight year, outscoring them 9-1 in the two matches
- NCFC improves to a 3-2 record against USL clubs in the Open Cup with a goal differential of +9
- With the victory, NCFC has won four of its last five matches.
Box Score
Lineups
NCFC: Brian Sylvestre; Christian Ibeagha, James Marcelin, Steven Miller (Brad Ruhaak, 72’), Connor Tobin; Bolu Akinyode, Nazmi Albadawi ©, Austin Da Luz, Lance Laing (Tiyi Shipalane, 77’), Saeed Robinson; Matt Fondy (Dre Fortune, 85’)
Subs not used: Kareem Moses, Macklin Robinson, Billy Schuler, Brian Shriver
CLT: Cody Mizell; Joel Johnson, Henry Kalungi (Yann Ekra, 71’), Luke Waechter, Austin Yearwood (David Spies, 61’); Jun Davidson, David Estrada, Alex Martinez, Callum Ross; Jorge Herrera © (Casey Townsend, 71’), Enzo Martinez
Subs not used: Lewis Hilton, Jared Odenbeck, Kyle Renfro, Jaime Siaj,
Score:
NCFC: 4
CLT: 1
Goals:
NCFC: James Marcelin (Lance Laing, 17’), Nazmi Albadawi (Saeed Robinson, 51’), Nazmi Albadawi (Austin Da Luz, 81’), Connor Tobin (Austin Da Luz, 83’)
CLT: Alex Martinez (PK, 90+’)
Cautions:
NCFC: Lance Laing 45+’, Brian Sylvestre 63’
CLT: Enzo Martinez 23’, Henry Kalungi 43’, Alex Martinez 90+’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
CLT: —
Attendance: 2,052
CARY, N.C. (May 31, 2017) – North Carolina FC emerged victorious in the North Carolina Derby on Wednesday night, bouncing the Charlotte Independence from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 4-1 win at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The win guarantees a fourth-round match up against MLS side Houston Dynamo at home on Wednesday, June 14th.
“It was a great result,” said head coach Colin Clarke. “To start with, I thought we dominated from the first whistle. We came out, started very well, possessed the ball, moved the ball, created opportunities, got the first goal and it was a very pleasing performance all around. To win the game 4-1 was nice.
“I think there has been a good rivalry here for quite a few years.,” added Clarke. “There are a few players that have gone both ways and I think part of our buildup, was that we wanted to be the best team in North Carolina.”
James Marcelin scored in the first half, Nazmi Albadawi added two goals in the second half and Connor Tobin recorded the final goal to round out the scoring for NCFC.
North Carolina FC continued its trend of scoring early at home with a goal from Marcelin in the 23rd minute. The center defender won a header off of Lance Laing’s corner kick and nodded it past the Independence keeper for the early goal and his second of the year. The goal marked NCFC’s fifth tally in the first 25 minutes of action at home this season.
NCFC continued to have the lion’s share of possession and chances created throughout the first half, nearly extending its lead with a low strike from Austin da Luz in the 24th minute and a free header from da Luz in the box in the 44th minute.
Charlotte’s best chances of the half came in the 35th and 36th minutes, as Brian Sylvestre parried initial shots away from goal, and got help from NCFC defenders to end the threat.
NCFC extended its high pressure into the second half and scored again in the 51st minute. Albadawi found space in the box and tucked away a perfectly placed shot into the far corner for his second goal this season and four Open Cup goal of his career.
The visitors’ attacking style played into the hands of NCFC’s strategy, as the host sat back and waited for its chance to counter.
The clinical counter attacks produced a pair of quick goals in the 82nd and 83rd minutes to give NCFC a 4-0 lead. Albadawi completed his brace after chipping the keeper inside the box and Tobin ventured into the attack to score with a rocket into the top corner. da Luz provided a pair of long-range passes to earn assists on both late goals.
Charlotte prevented the shutout after earning a penalty kick in stoppage time, which was converted by Alex Martinez to bring the match to its final score of 4-1.
Up Next:
NCFC continues its NASL season on Sunday, June 4 as they face the New York Cosmos at 4 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Visit NCFCTIX.com for tickets.
Notes:
- Former college teammates met as rivals on the field tonight. In 2009, Billy Schuler and Enzo Martinez both played for UNC-Chapel Hill and in 2012-13 Nazmi Albadawi and Alex Martiniez starred for NC State.
- For the first time this season, Connor Tobin started at left back
- James Marcelin scored a header on a Lance Laing assist for his second goal of the year
- Connor Tobin scored his first goal of the year on Austin da Luz’s second assist of the night
- Nazmi Albadawi scored a brace for the fourth and fifth Open Cup goals of his career on assists from Saeed Robinson and Austin da Luz
- North Carolina FC knocked the Charlotte Independence out of the Open Cup for the second straight year, outscoring them 9-1 in the two matches
- NCFC improves to a 3-2 record against USL clubs in the Open Cup with a goal differential of +9
- With the victory, NCFC has won four of its last five matches.
Box Score
Lineups
NCFC: Brian Sylvestre; Christian Ibeagha, James Marcelin, Steven Miller (Brad Ruhaak, 72’), Connor Tobin; Bolu Akinyode, Nazmi Albadawi ©, Austin Da Luz, Lance Laing (Tiyi Shipalane, 77’), Saeed Robinson; Matt Fondy (Dre Fortune, 85’)
Subs not used: Kareem Moses, Macklin Robinson, Billy Schuler, Brian Shriver
CLT: Cody Mizell; Joel Johnson, Henry Kalungi (Yann Ekra, 71’), Luke Waechter, Austin Yearwood (David Spies, 61’); Jun Davidson, David Estrada, Alex Martinez, Callum Ross; Jorge Herrera © (Casey Townsend, 71’), Enzo Martinez
Subs not used: Lewis Hilton, Jared Odenbeck, Kyle Renfro, Jaime Siaj,
Score:
NCFC: 4
CLT: 1
Goals:
NCFC: James Marcelin (Lance Laing, 17’), Nazmi Albadawi (Saeed Robinson, 51’), Nazmi Albadawi (Austin Da Luz, 81’), Connor Tobin (Austin Da Luz, 83’)
CLT: Alex Martinez (PK, 90+’)
Cautions:
NCFC: Lance Laing 45+’, Brian Sylvestre 63’
CLT: Enzo Martinez 23’, Henry Kalungi 43’, Alex Martinez 90+’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
CLT: —
Attendance: 2,052
