USL1 North Carolina FC

North Carolina FC to Face Forward Madison for First Time this Season

Published on August 8, 2022 under United Soccer League One (USL1)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, NC - After a two-week hiatus from match play, North Carolina FC will return to their home stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park to face off against Forward Madison FC for the first time this season on Wednesday, August 10 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available here, and the match will be available to stream live on ESPN+.

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC were bested by the Richmond Kickers on July 27, the Kickers relying on two stoppage time goals to secure the result as the final minutes ticked away. Shak Adams scored his first goal with the club and Max Flick recorded his first goal of the season in tonight's match, as Emiliano Terzaghi and Dakota Barnathan picked up a goal apiece to propel the Kickers toward claiming three points.

North Carolina FC tallied their first of the night in the 26th minute, the scoring play being catalyzed with a free kick taken well outside the eighteen. Showkat Tahir stepped up to send in the service, curving in a ball into a scrum of players in the box and ultimately finding the head of Jordan Skelton. Sending a header back across the face of the net, the captain collected his first assist of the season as Adams buried his first goal of the season with a bicycle kick past Richmond goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald. Adams' goal would be the sole score through the first half, concluding with the home side on top.

Richmond tallied an equalizer in the 59th minute, but NCFC was able to re-gain the upper hand in the 78th minute as Max Flick likewise scored his first goal of the season to put the North Carolina side up 2-1, capitalizing on a missed clearance by the Richmond defense and finishing a one-time shot with his left.

As the match entered stoppage time, the Kickers transitioned quickly to the offensive, finding the back of the net twice in the final minutes of the game. An early cross into the box and a diving header from Terzaghi leveled the game for Richmond in the opening minute of stoppage time, and their third goal of the night was the result of an initial save from Will Pulisic that was later deflected off of the chest of Dakota Barnathan.

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC - #3 Nelson Flores Blanco

A steadfast presence on the NCFC backline, Flores Blanco has appeared in 15 matches for a total of 1,286 minutes this season, recording nine key passes, 27 interceptions, and 24 clearances while maintaining an 84.2% tackle success rate. As the North Carolina side aim to re-enter the win column against a new opponent on Wednesday, Flores Blanco will look to bolster the NCFC defense against a strong Forward Madison side while also advancing upfield to get crosses off and assist in the attack.

Forward Madison FC - #4 Mitch Osmond

Named to the USL League One Team of the Week recently, Osmond recorded the highest passing score of any player in Week 18, completing 107 of 114 attempted passes in the squad's recent draw against Northern Colorado, also recording 10 recoveries. Throughout the match, the defender won 69% of his attempted ground and aerial duels whilst maintaining 75% long ball accuracy, numbers he will look to repeat in Wednesday's contest as the two sides face off for the first time this year.

Up Next: North Carolina FC will play their second consecutive match this week on Saturday, August 13 at WakeMed Soccer Park at 5 p.m. ET against the visiting Central Valley Fuego FC in a doubleheader with the NC Courage.

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics

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