CARY, N.C. (June 2, 2018) – North Carolina FC U-23 won its second game in a row with a 2-1 rivalry victory over Tobacco Road FC in PDL action on Saturday night. Jelani Pieters added late-game heroics, scoring the game winner in the 89th minute.
The victory was the second straight win for the team and moves NCFC U-23 to eight points and second place in the South Atlantic Standings. The match also featured a plethora of North Carolina talent on the field. In total, 10 NCFC Youth Academy products featured in the lineups for the Triangle rivals.
The match had two different weather delays spanning nearly two hours. Once the teams were underway following the delays, the action started quickly with Tobacco Road FC’s Delasi Batse scoring in the 15th minute. NCFC U-23 responded just 11 minutes later as Shariff Secka scored for the second match in a row to equalize off an assist from Dean Rutherford.
The teams played out an intense match, while trading chances on both sides. With time winding down, Jelani Pieters – making his season debut – scored the deciding goal in the 89th minute. Pieters finished off a header from Alex Moztarzadeh's cross for the win.
Notes:
North Carolina Football Club’s deeply rooted youth-to-pro pipeline was once again showcased in the club’s latest match as four NCFC Youth Academy products (Caleb Duvernay, Jamil Gracia, George Marks, Nick Retzlaff) and three TFCA/CASL (now NCFC Youth) products (Chase Rhode, Dean Rutherford and Clayton Sparks) all featured in the lineup.
TRFC also featured a roster loaded with former NCFC ties. Brad Ruhaak – a member of NCFC in 2017, started for Tobacco Road. Former NCFC U-23 players Fernando Castellanos and Alex Comsia also played. Additionally, NCFC Youth Academy products, Ryan Cretens, Dylan Chain, Kellen Foster, Delasi Batse, Ben Fisher and Huntley Munn were all in the lineup for TRFC.
Shariff Secka scored his second goal of the year off an assist from Dean Rutherford.
Jelani Pieters made his season debut and scored the game winner with a strike in the 89th minute off an assist from Alex Moztarzadeh.
Box Score:
Lineups:
NCFC U-23: George Marks; Caleb Duvernay, Walid Yacoubou, Chase Rhode ©, Ryeong Choi; David Cuperman (Alex Moztarzadeh, 46’), Nick Retzlaff, Keegan Kelly (Jamil Gracia, 90’+2), Shariff Secka (David Mejia, 61’); Clayton Sparks, Dean Rutherford (Jelani Pieters, 76’)
Subs not used: Colton Dutches, Miles Stray, Nacho Lerech
TRFC: Ryan Cretens; Dylan Chain, Brad Ruhaak, Kellen Foster, Delasi Batse (Vincente Gallardo, 72’); Mauricio Pineda (Tommaso D’agostino, 83’), Fernando Castellanos; Javier Alcarria, Ben Fisher, Oscar Moreno (Alex Comsia, 46’); Taff Wadda
Subs not used: Zac Scott, Joaquin Del Rosario, Huntley Munn, Marshall Hodge
Score:
NCFC U-23: 2
TRFC: 1
Goals:
NCFC U-23: Shariff Secka (Dean Rutherford, 26’), Jelani Pieters (Alex Moztarzadeh, 89’)
TRFC: Delasi Batse (Unassisted, 15’)
Cautions:
NCFC U-23: Walid Yacoubou 74’
TRFC: —
Ejections:
NCFC U-23: —
TRFC: —
###
CARY, N.C. (June 2, 2018) – North Carolina FC U-23 won its second game in a row with a 2-1 rivalry victory over Tobacco Road FC in PDL action on Saturday night. Jelani Pieters added late-game heroics, scoring the game winner in the 89th minute.
The victory was the second straight win for the team and moves NCFC U-23 to eight points and second place in the South Atlantic Standings. The match also featured a plethora of North Carolina talent on the field. In total, 10 NCFC Youth Academy products featured in the lineups for the Triangle rivals.
The match had two different weather delays spanning nearly two hours. Once the teams were underway following the delays, the action started quickly with Tobacco Road FC’s Delasi Batse scoring in the 15th minute. NCFC U-23 responded just 11 minutes later as Shariff Secka scored for the second match in a row to equalize off an assist from Dean Rutherford.
The teams played out an intense match, while trading chances on both sides. With time winding down, Jelani Pieters – making his season debut – scored the deciding goal in the 89th minute. Pieters finished off a header from Alex Moztarzadeh’s cross for the win.
Notes:
North Carolina Football Club’s deeply rooted youth-to-pro pipeline was once again showcased in the club’s latest match as four NCFC Youth Academy products (Caleb Duvernay, Jamil Gracia, George Marks, Nick Retzlaff) and three TFCA/CASL (now NCFC Youth) products (Chase Rhode, Dean Rutherford and Clayton Sparks) all featured in the lineup.
TRFC also featured a roster loaded with former NCFC ties. Brad Ruhaak – a member of NCFC in 2017, started for Tobacco Road. Former NCFC U-23 players Fernando Castellanos and Alex Comsia also played. Additionally, NCFC Youth Academy products, Ryan Cretens, Dylan Chain, Kellen Foster, Delasi Batse, Ben Fisher and Huntley Munn were all in the lineup for TRFC.
Shariff Secka scored his second goal of the year off an assist from Dean Rutherford.
Jelani Pieters made his season debut and scored the game winner with a strike in the 89th minute off an assist from Alex Moztarzadeh.
Box Score:
Lineups:
NCFC U-23: George Marks; Caleb Duvernay, Walid Yacoubou, Chase Rhode ©, Ryeong Choi; David Cuperman (Alex Moztarzadeh, 46’), Nick Retzlaff, Keegan Kelly (Jamil Gracia, 90’+2), Shariff Secka (David Mejia, 61’); Clayton Sparks, Dean Rutherford (Jelani Pieters, 76’)
Subs not used: Colton Dutches, Miles Stray, Nacho Lerech
TRFC: Ryan Cretens; Dylan Chain, Brad Ruhaak, Kellen Foster, Delasi Batse (Vincente Gallardo, 72’); Mauricio Pineda (Tommaso D’agostino, 83’), Fernando Castellanos; Javier Alcarria, Ben Fisher, Oscar Moreno (Alex Comsia, 46’); Taff Wadda
Subs not used: Zac Scott, Joaquin Del Rosario, Huntley Munn, Marshall Hodge
Score:
NCFC U-23: 2
TRFC: 1
Goals:
NCFC U-23: Shariff Secka (Dean Rutherford, 26’), Jelani Pieters (Alex Moztarzadeh, 89’)
TRFC: Delasi Batse (Unassisted, 15’)
Cautions:
NCFC U-23: Walid Yacoubou 74’
TRFC: —
Ejections:
NCFC U-23: —
TRFC: —
###
