NASL North Carolina FC

North Carolina FC Concludes Regular Season at Indy Eleven on Sunday

Published on October 28, 2017 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. (Oct. 27, 2017) - In the final match of the regular season, North Carolina FC (11W-11D-9L, 44 points, third place) will face the Indy Eleven (7W-11D-13L, 32 points, sixth place) on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. While NCFC has already qualified for the playoffs, the team still has plenty to play for and will aim to secure third place in the 2017 NASL combined standings.

A third-place finish for the club would be its highest finish since the 2013 season, and keep NCFC in the hunt to host the 2017 NASL Championship. The third-place finish would also mean a semifinal match on the road against the San Francisco Deltas. A win will guarantee the seed, while a draw will mean New York must win by seven goals against Puerto Rico FC on Saturday to move in front.

One of NCFC's biggest keys to making the playoffs was its great play away from home. The club holds a 6W-4D-5L record on the road and has only dropped one away contest during the Fall Season. The team is one win away from clinching its most road wins in a NASL season ever, but it must chase the historic result in a venue where it has struggled. NCFC will look for its first win at Michael A. Carroll Stadium since Sept. 27, 2014, when it defeated the Eleven 1-0.

NCFC enters the match behind a run of form that has outscored opponents 17-7 during the last 11 matches. NCFC has only lost once during the stretch and is getting valuable offensive production from a variety of players. The club has 11 multi-goal scorers on the year, led by eight goals from Lance Laing and six from Renan Gorne.

Last Time Out:

North Carolina FC played to a 1-1 draw with the San Francisco Deltas and eventually locked up its first playoff appearance since 2012. Austin da Luz scored NCFC's goal off a beautiful cross from Dre Fortune. San Francisco would level the match and threaten to win it, but a late-game defensive stand highlighted by NASL Team of the Week honorees Macklin Robinson and James Marcelin clinched the result.

Players To Watch:

No. 26 Renan Gorne

Gorne lit up the Indy Eleven in the last match of the series, scoring two goals in a 5-0 route. The Brazilian has burst onto the NASL scene since his arrival at the beginning of the Fall Season. He's tallied six goals and two assists in 12 appearances. Look for the playmaker to use his natural goal scoring ability to stretch the Indy defense and build on his impressive season tally.

No. 6 Gerardo Torrado

The legendary Mexican midfielder is set to play the final game of his career. Torrado starred with the Mexican National Team from 1999-2013, making 146 appearances - including 11 FIFA World Cup appearances. The midfielder has played 1,767 minutes in 22 matches in 2017. Look for Torrado to control Indy's midfield in a central role.

Coming Up Next:

NCFC will begin its NASL playoff journey with a trip to either Miami FC or the San Francisco Deltas next weekend. The club's postseason fate will be finalized after the results from this weekend's matches.

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