DURHAM, N.C. (May 18, 2018)– North Carolina FC U-23 faced rival Tobacco Road FC on Thursday night at Durham County Stadium in a heated Premier Development League (PDL) match. While Tobacco Road would take the 3-1 victory, it was a night that highlighted the strides NCFC Youth Academy and the local soccer scene has taken to develop young stars.
The proximity that both NCFC U-23 and Tobacco Road have to the NCFC Youth Academy has created an obvious draw for its products. In total, 11 former Academy products either played or were available off the bench on Thursday night.
As the Academy continues to grow and develop young stars, more opportunities are opening up for its products to play at the next level. The PDL is widely regarded as one of the United States top pathways to develop amateurs into professionals.
Match Recap:
After withstanding a Tobacco Road surge to start the match, NCFC came inches away from opening up the scoring in the 23rd minute. Free in the box for NCFC’s first great look at goal, Nick Retzlaff fired a low-to-the-ground effort that squeezed between the legs of Tobacco Road goalkeeper Ryan Cretens, nearly crossing the goal-line before TRFC defender and Delasi Batse could clear.
Tobacco Road took the lead six minutes later thanks to Eli Garner.
In the 34th minute, NCFC’s Ryeong Choi delivered a dangerous free kick that forced a diving save out of Cretens. Although he saw his effort saved, Choi remained active in attacking roles for NCFC.
Out of the halftime break, Tobacco Road doubled its advantage in the 64th minute. However, NCFC responded quickly, as Choi sent in a free kick that fell to David Cuperman, who headed in from a few yards out to pull NCFC within a goal.
Tobacco Road added one more to its tally in the 75th minute, the game’s final goal.
Up Next:
NCFC U-23 returns to action at WakeMed Soccer Park to take on the Myrtle Beach Mutiny on Wednesday, May 23, at 7 p.m. ET.
Notes:
Thursday’s match was full of NCFC Youth Academy and NCFC U-23 connections involving both teams.
NCFC’s Caleb Duvernay, Nick Retzlaff, Jose Morales, Jamil Gracia and George Marks all came up through the NCFC Youth Academy. For Marks, the match against Tobacco Road served as his first with NCFC U-23.
Of Tobacco Road’s starting XI, four players (Ryan Cretens, Delasi Batse, Kellen Foster and Huntley Munn) were a part of the NCFC Youth Academy.
NCFC’s Pa-Alieu Ann, Ian Bennet, Dean Rutherford, Chase Rhode and Clayton Sparks played in the youth ranks with either Triangle Futbol Club Alliance and Capital Area Soccer League, predecessors to NCFC Youth.
Tobacco Road’s roster also includes three players (Alex Comsia, Fernando Castellanos and Ade Taiwo) who previously appeared with NCFC U-23.
Box Score:
Lineups:
NCFC U-23:George Marks; Jamil Gracia, Caleb Duvernay, Chase Rhode ©, Miles Stray (Baboucarr Njie, ‘66); Nick Retzlaff, Sheriff Secca, Ryeong Choi; Clayton Sparks, David Cuperman, Dean Rutherford (Ian Bennet, 66').
Subs not used: Colton Dutches, Jose Morales, Walid Yacudou, Pa-Alieu Ann
TRFC: Ryan Cretens; Kellen Foster, Delasi Batse, Vicente Gallardo; Huntley Munn (Oscar Moreno, ‘46), Javier Alcarria (Fernando Castellanos, ‘74), Germán Mendoza, Mauricio Pineda, Marshall Hodge (Dylan Chain, ‘46); Eli Garner (Ben Fisher, ‘64), Mustapha Wadda (Joaquin Del Rosario, ‘81)
Subs not used:Zac Scott, Henry Hannapel
Score:
TRFC: 3
NCFC U-23: 1
Goals:
TRFC: Eli Garner (unassisted, ‘29), German Mendoza (unassisted, ‘64), Mustapha Wadda (unassisted, ‘75)
NCFC U-23: David Cuperman (Ryeong Choi assist, ‘70)
Cautions:
TRFC: Dylan Chain (‘69), Oscar Moreno (‘85)
NCFC U-23: Miles Stray (‘59), Clayton Sparks (‘80)
Ejections:
TRFC: —
NCFC U-23: Baboucarr Njie (‘90+4)
DURHAM, N.C. (May 18, 2018)– North Carolina FC U-23 faced rival Tobacco Road FC on Thursday night at Durham County Stadium in a heated Premier Development League (PDL) match. While Tobacco Road would take the 3-1 victory, it was a night that highlighted the strides NCFC Youth Academy and the local soccer scene has taken to develop young stars.
The proximity that both NCFC U-23 and Tobacco Road have to the NCFC Youth Academy has created an obvious draw for its products. In total, 11 former Academy products either played or were available off the bench on Thursday night.
As the Academy continues to grow and develop young stars, more opportunities are opening up for its products to play at the next level. The PDL is widely regarded as one of the United States top pathways to develop amateurs into professionals.
Match Recap:
After withstanding a Tobacco Road surge to start the match, NCFC came inches away from opening up the scoring in the 23rd minute. Free in the box for NCFC’s first great look at goal, Nick Retzlaff fired a low-to-the-ground effort that squeezed between the legs of Tobacco Road goalkeeper Ryan Cretens, nearly crossing the goal-line before TRFC defender and Delasi Batse could clear.
Tobacco Road took the lead six minutes later thanks to Eli Garner.
In the 34th minute, NCFC’s Ryeong Choi delivered a dangerous free kick that forced a diving save out of Cretens. Although he saw his effort saved, Choi remained active in attacking roles for NCFC.
Out of the halftime break, Tobacco Road doubled its advantage in the 64th minute. However, NCFC responded quickly, as Choi sent in a free kick that fell to David Cuperman, who headed in from a few yards out to pull NCFC within a goal.
Tobacco Road added one more to its tally in the 75th minute, the game’s final goal.
Up Next:
NCFC U-23 returns to action at WakeMed Soccer Park to take on the Myrtle Beach Mutiny on Wednesday, May 23, at 7 p.m. ET.
Notes:
Thursday’s match was full of NCFC Youth Academy and NCFC U-23 connections involving both teams.
NCFC’s Caleb Duvernay, Nick Retzlaff, Jose Morales, Jamil Gracia and George Marks all came up through the NCFC Youth Academy. For Marks, the match against Tobacco Road served as his first with NCFC U-23.
Of Tobacco Road’s starting XI, four players (Ryan Cretens, Delasi Batse, Kellen Foster and Huntley Munn) were a part of the NCFC Youth Academy.
NCFC’s Pa-Alieu Ann, Ian Bennet, Dean Rutherford, Chase Rhode and Clayton Sparks played in the youth ranks with either Triangle Futbol Club Alliance and Capital Area Soccer League, predecessors to NCFC Youth.
Tobacco Road’s roster also includes three players (Alex Comsia, Fernando Castellanos and Ade Taiwo) who previously appeared with NCFC U-23.
Box Score:
Lineups:
NCFC U-23:George Marks; Jamil Gracia, Caleb Duvernay, Chase Rhode ©, Miles Stray (Baboucarr Njie, ‘66); Nick Retzlaff, Sheriff Secca, Ryeong Choi; Clayton Sparks, David Cuperman, Dean Rutherford (Ian Bennet, 66′).
Subs not used: Colton Dutches, Jose Morales, Walid Yacudou, Pa-Alieu Ann
TRFC: Ryan Cretens; Kellen Foster, Delasi Batse, Vicente Gallardo; Huntley Munn (Oscar Moreno, ‘46), Javier Alcarria (Fernando Castellanos, ‘74), Germán Mendoza, Mauricio Pineda, Marshall Hodge (Dylan Chain, ‘46); Eli Garner (Ben Fisher, ‘64), Mustapha Wadda (Joaquin Del Rosario, ‘81)
Subs not used:Zac Scott, Henry Hannapel
Score:
TRFC: 3
NCFC U-23: 1
Goals:
TRFC: Eli Garner (unassisted, ‘29), German Mendoza (unassisted, ‘64), Mustapha Wadda (unassisted, ‘75)
NCFC U-23: David Cuperman (Ryeong Choi assist, ‘70)
Cautions:
TRFC: Dylan Chain (‘69), Oscar Moreno (‘85)
NCFC U-23: Miles Stray (‘59), Clayton Sparks (‘80)
Ejections:
TRFC: —
NCFC U-23: Baboucarr Njie (‘90+4)
