NCFC falls at home against Phoenix Rising

Published on October 10, 2025 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
North Carolina FC News Release

Louis Perez of North Carolina FC
(North Carolina FC, Credit: Greg Ng)

With the loss, NCFC remains in fourth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings with a 12W-11L-5D record and 41 points with two games remaining in the regular season.

Charlie Dennis gave Phoenix the lead in the 35', pouncing on a rebound in the middle of the box and finding the back of the net through a crowd. Collin Smith doubled the visitors' advantage in the 61', heading home a cross from Darius Johnson at the back post.

Up Next:

North Carolina FC hosts Rhode Island FC for its regular season home finale on Saturday, October 18, at 7 p.m. ET at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Tickets for the match are available here.

NCFC (5-2-3): Oliver Semmle; Mikey Maldonado, Paco Craig © (Patrick Burner - 64'), Conor Donovan, Finn Sundstrom, Ahmad Al-Qaq (Triston Hodge - 90' + 3'); Louis Perez, Raheem Somersall (Jayson Quintanilla - 85'); Pedro Dolabella, Rodrigo da Costa, Thomas Roberts (Oalex Anderson - 46')

Subs Not Used: Jake McGuire, Trevor Mulqueen, Akira Fitzgerald, Bryce Washington

PHX (3-4-3): Patrick Rakovsky; Rafael Czichos, Pape Boye ©, Ascel Essengue; Daniel Flores (Noble Okello - 85'), Jean Moursou, John Scearce, Collin Smith; Hope Avayevu (Xian Emmers - 85'), Darius Johnson (Ihsan Sacko - 71'), Charlie Dennis

Subs Not Used: Triston Henry, Ryan Flood, Pierce Rizzo, Remi Cabral

Score:

NCFC: 0

PHX: 2

Goals:

NCFC: -

PHX: C. Dennis - 35', C. Smith 61' - (D. Johnson)

Cautions:

NCFC: C. Donovan - 55'

PHX: D. Flores - 2', D. Johnson - 32'

Ejections:

NCFC: -

PHX: -

Venue (Location): First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)

Attendance: 2,526

Louis Perez of North Carolina FC (Greg Ng)

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