CARY, NC (September 26, 2021) – North Carolina FC fell to the visiting North Texas SC in a hard-fought, physical match whose result was decided by a single goal. The contest featured several impressive saves from goalkeeper Nicholas Holliday and standout performances from Aziel Jackson, Britton Fischer, and Luis Arriaga, who made his debut as team captain in today’s match. Despite several near-chances to erase the deficit in added time, the North Carolina side was unable to find an equalizer as time expired.
“I thought we found our way and were the better team for the majority of the first half, up until the last five minutes,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “Disappointed with the goal we gave up, I think it was avoidable. Obviously it was a good strike, but our positioning and help defensively [could be improved].”
When asked about the decision to give the captain’s band to Arriaga in this afternoon’s match, Bradford had high praise for the midfielder: “I’ve been a Luis Arriaga fan for many years, that’s part of the reason he’s here. He leads by example, he is a tireless worker, he keeps going for the entirety of [the game]. He doesn’t speak a lot, but when he does, it carries more weight.”
Dominick Hernandez drew first blood in this afternoon’s match, receiving a pass from Caiser Gomes and taking a chance from just inside the eighteen. Burying his shot at the far post and into the lower 90, Hernandez’s goal provided North Texas with a 1-0 advantage late into the first half. Hernandez’s goal would prove the difference for the visitors, as it was the lone goal scored during the contest.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will hit the road to face Toronto FC II on Friday, October 1 at BMO Training Ground & Academy in Toronto, Ontario at 4 p.m. ET. The match will air on ESPN+.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Nicholas Holliday, Shermaine Martina (Malick Mbaye — 70’), Max Flick, Britton Fischer, Nelson Flores, Luis Arriaga, Daniel Steedman (Jay Tee Kamara — 75’), Nelson Martinez (Thorn Simpson — 90’), Josh Coan, Cole Frame (Selmir Miscic — 75’), Aziel Jackson (Robert Kristo — 75’)
Subs Not Used: Jake McGuire, Peter Pearson
NTX (4-3-3): Richard Sanchez, Derek Waldeck (Hope Avayevu — 90’), Lucas Da Silva Teodoro (Mark Salas — 85’), Caiser Gomes, Collin Smith, Imanol Almaguer, Blaine Ferri (Michael Moldanado — 85’), Dominick Hernandez, Christian Ferreira (Devin Benton Jr. — 85’), Freddy Vargas, Kalil Elmedkhar (Gibran Rayo — 66’)
Subs Not Used: Colin Shutler, Bernard Kamungo
Score:
NCFC: 0
NTX: 1
Goals:
NCFC: —
NTX: Dominick Hernandez — 41’
Cautions:
NCFC: Shermaine Martina — 4’, Nelson Martinez — 44’, Josh Coan — 90+11’
NTX: Freddy Vargas — 90+11’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NTX: —
CARY, NC (September 26, 2021) – North Carolina FC fell to the visiting North Texas SC in a hard-fought, physical match whose result was decided by a single goal. The contest featured several impressive saves from goalkeeper Nicholas Holliday and standout performances from Aziel Jackson, Britton Fischer, and Luis Arriaga, who made his debut as team captain in today’s match. Despite several near-chances to erase the deficit in added time, the North Carolina side was unable to find an equalizer as time expired.
“I thought we found our way and were the better team for the majority of the first half, up until the last five minutes,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “Disappointed with the goal we gave up, I think it was avoidable. Obviously it was a good strike, but our positioning and help defensively [could be improved].”
When asked about the decision to give the captain’s band to Arriaga in this afternoon’s match, Bradford had high praise for the midfielder: “I’ve been a Luis Arriaga fan for many years, that’s part of the reason he’s here. He leads by example, he is a tireless worker, he keeps going for the entirety of [the game]. He doesn’t speak a lot, but when he does, it carries more weight.”
Dominick Hernandez drew first blood in this afternoon’s match, receiving a pass from Caiser Gomes and taking a chance from just inside the eighteen. Burying his shot at the far post and into the lower 90, Hernandez’s goal provided North Texas with a 1-0 advantage late into the first half. Hernandez’s goal would prove the difference for the visitors, as it was the lone goal scored during the contest.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will hit the road to face Toronto FC II on Friday, October 1 at BMO Training Ground & Academy in Toronto, Ontario at 4 p.m. ET. The match will air on ESPN+.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Nicholas Holliday, Shermaine Martina (Malick Mbaye — 70’), Max Flick, Britton Fischer, Nelson Flores, Luis Arriaga, Daniel Steedman (Jay Tee Kamara — 75’), Nelson Martinez (Thorn Simpson — 90’), Josh Coan, Cole Frame (Selmir Miscic — 75’), Aziel Jackson (Robert Kristo — 75’)
Subs Not Used: Jake McGuire, Peter Pearson
NTX (4-3-3): Richard Sanchez, Derek Waldeck (Hope Avayevu — 90’), Lucas Da Silva Teodoro (Mark Salas — 85’), Caiser Gomes, Collin Smith, Imanol Almaguer, Blaine Ferri (Michael Moldanado — 85’), Dominick Hernandez, Christian Ferreira (Devin Benton Jr. — 85’), Freddy Vargas, Kalil Elmedkhar (Gibran Rayo — 66’)
Subs Not Used: Colin Shutler, Bernard Kamungo
Score:
NCFC: 0
NTX: 1
Goals:
NCFC: —
NTX: Dominick Hernandez — 41’
Cautions:
NCFC: Shermaine Martina — 4’, Nelson Martinez — 44’, Josh Coan — 90+11’
NTX: Freddy Vargas — 90+11’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NTX: —
