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NASL North Carolina FC

Match Preview: RailHawks Travel to Atlanta to Take on Silverbacks

September 18, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, NC (September 18, 2015) - The Carolina RailHawks will continue their postseason push on Saturday, September 19th, when they take on the Atlanta Silverbacks at 7:30 pm at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. The match will be broadcast live locally in North Carolina on WRAL2, and nationally on ESPN3.

The RailHawks hosted the Silverbacks two weeks ago on September 4th, when they earned three points off of an impressive 2-0 victory. Nazmi Albadawi and captain Connor Tobin secured the RailHawks win with goals in the24th and 28th minutes, respectively. Akira Fitzgerald also recorded his first shutout of the Fall Season.

The RailHawks travel to Atlanta looking to return to the win column and continue their fight for a playoff berth. The RailHawks currently have 26 Combined-season points and are only five points off of a Championship spot with seven regular-season games remaining. The Silverbacks currently sit sixth in the Fall Season standings and eighth in the Combined Season standings.

The RailHawks return to the pitch following a tough 3-1 road loss against second-place Minnesota United FC. In Saturday's match at NSC Stadium, Futty Danso gave the RailHawks an early 1-0 lead after netting a goal in the 4th minute. Minnesota United went on to score three unanswered goals; all in the final 20 minutes of the second half.

The Atlanta Silverbacks are also coming off of a loss against Minnesota United. During Tuesday's match at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, the Silverbacks played man-down for 86 minutes following a Rauwshan McKenzie red card in the 4th minute. While the Silverbacks were able to seize a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute, Minnesota United scored two goals to defeat the Silverbacks 2-1.

Following Saturday's match, the RailHawks return home to host first-place Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday, September 26th at 7:30 pm.

RailHawks Notes:

Who to Watch

The RailHawks held a half time lead in the Fall Season for the fifth consecutive match last Saturday against Minnesota United FC after Gambia international Futty Danso netted a goal in the 4th minute. The Serekunda native has been one of Colin Clarke's most reliable and consistent performers. Danso was recently selected for the Gambia National Team to participate in a qualification match for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Coach's Quote

"It's a very important game. We're getting toward the latter half of the season and we're in a position where we need to pick up points," said RailHawks Head Coach Colin Clark. "There are still a lot of points to be played for and we feel confident we can get three points on Saturday."

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