The Carolina RailHawks made history tonight, drawing English Premier League team West Ham United 2-2 in front of a sellout crowd of 10,125 fans, the largest ever for a RailHawks game at WakeMed Soccer Park. This highly anticipated international exhibition was filled with excitement and surprises including the introduction of the RailHawks' newest signing, Omar Bravo.
"We’re moving forward," said RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke. "We feel like we have a very good team, and we’ll continue to look to add and improve."
Both teams came out with strong attacks. In the sixth minute, Brian Shriver played a beautiful ball to Matt Watson who laid it off to Tiyi Shipalane, but Shipalane's finesse shot was blocked by a Hammer defender. Carolina kept the pressure high in the 11th minute as captain Nazmi Albadawi took a hit and his shot nearly hooked in but barely went right.
The RailHawks got on the board first, as West Ham’s Winston Reid scored an own goal to put Carolina up 1-0. The goal was a result of Reid's attempt to deflect a cross from Drew Beckie in the 13th minute.
The Hammers struck back in the 18th as Andy Carroll found Winston Reid’s feet, who put the ball past RailHawks keeper Akira Fitzgerald. Carroll struck again in the 20th minute with the help of Sofiane Fegouhli who played the ball across of the face of the goal for Carroll to finish.
Shriver nearly evened the score in the 28th minute off a flick from Matt Fondy, but his shot kissed the crossbar and the teams went into the locker room with a 2-1 score in favor of the visitors.
At halftime, the Carolina RailHawks announced the signing of C.D. Chivas Guadalajara all-time leading scorer forward Omar Bravo. The Mexican International and Liga MX legend has joined the team and will likely make his NASL debut on Friday, July 22, when the RailHawks host Miami FC at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Shortly after the start of the second half, the match was temporarily suspended due to adverse weather. After play resumed, Carolina was awarded a penalty kick as a result of a handball by West Ham’s Lewis Page in the 67th. Marvin Ceballos stepped up to capitalize on the penalty evening the score.
Bravo entered in the last 10 minutes of the game giving fans a glimpse of what's to come, as both teams kept looking for the elusive tally to no avail fixing the score at 2-2.
Hawk Hits:
- Eight RailHawks NPSL and Capital Area RailHawks Academy players were on tonight’s roster including Keaton Albert, DJ Mason, Manny Perez, Jose Morales, Billy Arnez, Lucas Del Rosario, James Orozco, and Max Groover
- Tonight’s crowd of 10,125 attendees was an all-time club game attendance record
- Marvin Ceballos scored his first goal for the RailHawks in the 67th minute
- Kareem Moses and James Marcelin were the only two RailHawks players to play all 90+ minutes tonight.
- Goalkeeper Macklin Robinson made his first appearance for the club
- Omar Bravo entered the match towards the end, playing 10 minutes and giving fans a glimpse of his exceptional flare.
- The RailHawks travel to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, July 16 to take on the Strikers at 7:00 p.m.
- Carolina returns home on Friday, July 22 against Miami FC at 7:30 p.m.
Boxscore:
CAR 2
WHU 2
Lineups:
CAR: Akira Fitzgerald (Brian Sylvestre 46 (Macklin Robinson 87)), Drew Beckie (DJ Mason 62), Simon Mensing (Steven Miller 46), Kareem Moses, James Marcelin, Matt Watson (Keaton Albert 25), Brian Shriver (Marvin Ceballos 38 (Manny Perez 80)), Nazmi Albadawi (Aly Hassan 63) ©, Tiyi Shipalane (Jose Morales 63 (Lucas Del Rosario 35)), Austin da Luz (Jonathon Orlando 62), Matt Fondy (Billy Schuler 46 (Omar Bravo 80))
Subs not used: Connor Tobin, Billy Arnez, Max Groover, James Orozco
WHU: Adrian (Raphael Spiegel 46)), Mark Noble, Winston Reid (Declan Rice 63), Andy Carroll (Antonio Martinez 46), Aaron Cresswell (Lewis Page 46), Pedro Obiang (Diego Poyet, 63), Sofiane Fegouhli (Domingos Quina 63), Manuel Lanzini (Marcus Browne 63), Sam Byram (Moses Makasi 63), Martin Samuelsen, Reece Burke (Doneil Henry 63)
Subs not used: —
Goals:
CAR: Reid (OG 13), Ceballos (67)
WHU: Reid (18), Carroll (20)
Cautions:
CAR: Miller (51)
WHU: Page (67), Quina (90+)
Ejections: —
Attendance: 10,125
The Carolina RailHawks made history tonight, drawing English Premier League team West Ham United 2-2 in front of a sellout crowd of 10,125 fans, the largest ever for a RailHawks game at WakeMed Soccer Park. This highly anticipated international exhibition was filled with excitement and surprises including the introduction of the RailHawks’ newest signing, Omar Bravo.
“We’re moving forward,” said RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke. “We feel like we have a very good team, and we’ll continue to look to add and improve.”
Both teams came out with strong attacks. In the sixth minute, Brian Shriver played a beautiful ball to Matt Watson who laid it off to Tiyi Shipalane, but Shipalane’s finesse shot was blocked by a Hammer defender. Carolina kept the pressure high in the 11th minute as captain Nazmi Albadawi took a hit and his shot nearly hooked in but barely went right.
The RailHawks got on the board first, as West Ham’s Winston Reid scored an own goal to put Carolina up 1-0. The goal was a result of Reid’s attempt to deflect a cross from Drew Beckie in the 13th minute.
The Hammers struck back in the 18th as Andy Carroll found Winston Reid’s feet, who put the ball past RailHawks keeper Akira Fitzgerald. Carroll struck again in the 20th minute with the help of Sofiane Fegouhli who played the ball across of the face of the goal for Carroll to finish.
Shriver nearly evened the score in the 28th minute off a flick from Matt Fondy, but his shot kissed the crossbar and the teams went into the locker room with a 2-1 score in favor of the visitors.
At halftime, the Carolina RailHawks announced the signing of C.D. Chivas Guadalajara all-time leading scorer forward Omar Bravo. The Mexican International and Liga MX legend has joined the team and will likely make his NASL debut on Friday, July 22, when the RailHawks host Miami FC at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Shortly after the start of the second half, the match was temporarily suspended due to adverse weather. After play resumed, Carolina was awarded a penalty kick as a result of a handball by West Ham’s Lewis Page in the 67th. Marvin Ceballos stepped up to capitalize on the penalty evening the score.
Bravo entered in the last 10 minutes of the game giving fans a glimpse of what’s to come, as both teams kept looking for the elusive tally to no avail fixing the score at 2-2.
Hawk Hits:
- Eight RailHawks NPSL and Capital Area RailHawks Academy players were on tonight’s roster including Keaton Albert, DJ Mason, Manny Perez, Jose Morales, Billy Arnez, Lucas Del Rosario, James Orozco, and Max Groover
- Tonight’s crowd of 10,125 attendees was an all-time club game attendance record
- Marvin Ceballos scored his first goal for the RailHawks in the 67th minute
- Kareem Moses and James Marcelin were the only two RailHawks players to play all 90+ minutes tonight.
- Goalkeeper Macklin Robinson made his first appearance for the club
- Omar Bravo entered the match towards the end, playing 10 minutes and giving fans a glimpse of his exceptional flare.
- The RailHawks travel to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, July 16 to take on the Strikers at 7:00 p.m.
- Carolina returns home on Friday, July 22 against Miami FC at 7:30 p.m.
Boxscore:
CAR 2
WHU 2
Lineups:
CAR: Akira Fitzgerald (Brian Sylvestre 46 (Macklin Robinson 87)), Drew Beckie (DJ Mason 62), Simon Mensing (Steven Miller 46), Kareem Moses, James Marcelin, Matt Watson (Keaton Albert 25), Brian Shriver (Marvin Ceballos 38 (Manny Perez 80)), Nazmi Albadawi (Aly Hassan 63) ©, Tiyi Shipalane (Jose Morales 63 (Lucas Del Rosario 35)), Austin da Luz (Jonathon Orlando 62), Matt Fondy (Billy Schuler 46 (Omar Bravo 80))
Subs not used: Connor Tobin, Billy Arnez, Max Groover, James Orozco
WHU: Adrian (Raphael Spiegel 46)), Mark Noble, Winston Reid (Declan Rice 63), Andy Carroll (Antonio Martinez 46), Aaron Cresswell (Lewis Page 46), Pedro Obiang (Diego Poyet, 63), Sofiane Fegouhli (Domingos Quina 63), Manuel Lanzini (Marcus Browne 63), Sam Byram (Moses Makasi 63), Martin Samuelsen, Reece Burke (Doneil Henry 63)
Subs not used: —
Goals:
CAR: Reid (OG 13), Ceballos (67)
WHU: Reid (18), Carroll (20)
Cautions:
CAR: Miller (51)
WHU: Page (67), Quina (90+)
Ejections: —
Attendance: 10,125
