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NASL North Carolina FC

Match Recap: RailHawks Fall 2-1 to Puerto Rico FC in Final Game of the Season

October 29, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


Kareem Moses scores his first career goal for Carolina

BayamÃ"n, Puerto Rico - The Carolina RailHawks (11W-7D-14L; 40 pts; 8th place) fell 2-1 to Puerto Rico FC (5W-9D-8L; 24 pts; 12th place) in their last game of the season, despite a strong offensive effort. Defender Kareem Moses recorded his first career goal as a RailHawk, but it did not prove to be enough against a determined Puerto Rico side.

The opposing team struck first, following a free kick from Puerto Rico FC that found Sidney Rivera's head in the 6th minute for the 1-0 lead.

The RailHawks countered with intensity, creating an opportunity only six minutes later as Austin da Luz tried to head home a Tiyi Shipalane cross only to see it narrowly miss the net. Da Luz would leave the match soon after, following a collision with a Puerto Rico player. He was subbed out for Marvin Ceballos.

Ten minutes later Ceballos had a chance to add Carolina's first goal with a shot to the bottom right corner; however, Puerto Rico goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg stifled the shot.

Keeping up the intensity, the RailHawks broke through with a goal of their own in the 32nd minute as Steven Miller crossed a ball towards the far post finding Moses who headed it int the left corner of the net for the temporary draw.

Carolina had two more concrete chances, as well as 57 percent of possession in the first half, but it was Puerto Rico that scored the next goal. Héctor Ramos split his defenders and took a left-footed shot that found its way behind Akira Fitzgerald in the 42nd minute.

Not letting the scoreline affect them, the RailHawks continued to charge in the second half, pressuring Puerto Rico with a lot of time spent in front of Spangenberg's goal.

Carolina maintained that fast paced tempo, with several balls in the box for close chances, including an Omar Bravo chance in the 74th minute as the forward jumped on a cross.

However, the RailHawks were ultimately not rewarded for the offensive-minded plays they executed in the second half, as Puerto Rico picked up the 2-1 win.

Hawk Hits:

Kareem Moses scored his first goal of the season; Steven Miller picked up his second assist on the play. Akira Fitzgerald made his first start in net since August 27. The goalkeeper made one save tonight. Earlier in the evening Matt Fondy was named 2016 Fan Favorite after a week-long fan vote on CarolinaRailHawks.com Matt Fondy and Brian Sylvestre were voted to this week's NASL's Week 17 Team of the Week. This was both Fondy and Sylvestre's second feature on the list. Matt Fondy scored his seventh goal of the season last weekend in Carolina's win over Minnesota United and is the team's leading scorer at the conclusion of the 2016 season.

Box Score:

CAR 1

PRFC 2

Lineups:

CAR: Akira Fitzgerald; Kareem Moses; Connor Tobin, Mickey Daly, Steven Miller; Austin da Luz (Marvin Ceballos, 18'), Matt Watson, Nazmi Albadawi ©, Tiyi Shipalane; Matt Fondy (Billy Schuler, 78') Brian Shriver (Omar Bravo, 63')

Subs not used: Macklin Robinson, Simon Mensing, Drew Beckie, James Marcelin

PRFC: Trevor Spangenberg; Rudy Dawson, Cristiano Dias ©, Ramon Soria, Ramon Del Campo, Kyle Culbertson; Tyler Rudy, Chris Nurse (Camilo Botero, 76') Paulo Mendes (Brian Bement; 84'); Héctor Ramos, Sidney Rivera (Joseph Marrero, 56')

Subs not used: David Meves, Camilo Botero, Pedro Mendes, Jorge Rivera, Evans Frimpong

Goals:

CAR: Kareem Moses (Steven Miller, 32')

PRFC: Sidney Rivera (Kyle Culbertson, 6'), Héctor Ramos (42')

Cautions:

CAR: Omar Bravo, 76', Watson, 90+'

PRFC: --

Ejections:

CAR -- PRFC -- ####

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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