CARY, NC (July 9, 2022) – North Carolina FC shared the points with Union Omaha on Saturday night following a hard-fought contest through the full 90 minutes. Jaden Servania collected his second goal of the season in the match, with Christian Lue Young adding the assist on Servania’s goal. Noe Meza scored the equalizer for the visitors. Shak Adams made his NCFC debut in the 89th minute, having joined the roster earlier this week on loan from the Charleston Battery. The contest also marked the club’s celebration of Pride Night, which included NCFC players donning Pride pre-match tops for their walkout and a singing of the National Anthem performed by the Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus.
“It was a great feeling being able to play for NCFC today,” Adams said of his debut. “Wish we could have come away with three points for my first game, but it was fun playing in front of the fans.”
Servania opened the scoring in tonight’s contest, receiving a drop pass from Lue Young just outside of the eighteen and cutting the ball to his left foot. With his next touch, the Puerto Rican international drove a shot into the lower 90 at the near post, beating Golden Glove leader Rashid Nuhu to give the North Carolina side a 1-0 advantage in the 39th minute. The scoreline held through the remainder of the first half, despite several chances for NCFC to extend their lead as the clock wound down.
“An emphasis for us has been trying to find Jaden and Showkat in those spaces, in between lines for them, and obviously [tonight] both of them were able to get forward,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “Showkat had a shot that troubled [Union Omaha] early, and Jaden as well, and [Jaden] was finally able to get his goal, so I’m happy for him to finally get rewarded tonight…I thought his overall performance was positive.”
Union Omaha found an equalizer in the 63rd minute, as Meza found himself on the receiving end of a cross from Ryen Jiba, redirecting a header to level the score at a goal apiece. Several near chances at a go-ahead goal ensued for the home team – catalyzed by the likes of Servania, Garrett McLaughlin and Oalex Anderson – but to no avail as time expired and the match concluded in a draw.
Match Notes:
- Shak Adams made his NCFC debut in tonight’s match.
- Jaden Servania scored his second goal of the season, with Christian Lue Young adding his first assist.
- North Carolina FC maintained 55% possession throughout the game.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face the Chattanooga Red Wolves for the second time this season at CHI Memorial Stadium in Chattanooga, TN on Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Will Pulisic, Christian Lue Young, Jordan Skelton, Gustavo Fernandes (Britton Fischer – 49’), Nelson Flores Blanco, Showkat Tahir (Nelson Martinez – 65’), Raheem Somersall, Jaden Servania (Pecka – 89’), Luis Arriaga, Oalex Anderson (Nicolas Molina – 65’), Garrett McLaughlin (Shak Adams – 89’)
Subs Not Used: Nicholas Holliday, Nico Rincon
OMA (4-4-2): Rashid Nuhu, Ryen Jiba, Daltyn Knutson, Alex Touche, Isaac Bawa (Emir Alihodzic – 69’), Connor Doyle, JP Scearce, Joseph Brito, Kemal Malcolm (Dion Acoff – 69’), Hugo Kametani, Noe Meza
Subs Not Used: Gabriel Claudio, Alex Bruce, Ricky Rivera, Yoskar Galvan, Kevin Piedrahita
Score:
NCFC: 1
OMA: 1
Goals:
NCFC: Jaden Servania (Christian Lue Young) – 39’
OMA: Noe Meza (Ryen Jiba) – 63’
Cautions:
NCFC: Jaden Servania – 32’, Nelson Martinez – 83’, Raheem Somersall – 88’
OMA: Isaac Bawa – 35’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
OMA: —
