NASL North Carolina FC

RailHawks Face Mexico Olympic Team Sunday

Published on April 22, 2010 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. (April 22, 2010) - The RailHawks step away from USSF D-2 action this weekend and will square off against the Mexico Olympic National Team in an international friendly at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Mexico is in the U.S. for week of training. In addition to Sunday's match against Carolina, they played the USL Second Division's Richmond Kicker's in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday and they will play a closed-door scrimmage against the N.C. State men's soccer team on Friday.

Mexico defeated the Kickers 3-1 before a crowd of 3,482 at the University of Richmond Stadium on Wednesday. Mexico's David Azazola scored the game's first goal in the 22nd minute. Richmond equalized in the 65th, but Mexico scored a pair of goals in stoppage time, one from Isaac Acuna and the other from Piccolo Rojo, to prevail.

For the RailHawks, Sunday's match will provide coach Martin Rennie and his players the opportunity to test themselves against some of Mexico's brightest young talent.

"It'll be interesting to see just how good they are and to see how good we are against them," Rennie said. "I'm sure they'll be moving the ball really quickly and playing up-tempo and they'll be technically excellent. We're talking about players that are going to be some of the best players in the world. A lot of the top Mexican players do really well in Europe, so I'm sure there will be some guys we'll see in the future."

While Sunday's match is a friendly, the RailHawks are certainly looking for a strong performance they can build on. They enter the match coming off a 1-0 loss to NSC Minnesota on April 16, and their next two matches will be on the road (May 1 at Rochester; May 8 at Miami).

SCOUTING MEXICO

The Mexican Olympic National Team will compete at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and attempt to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

Mexico is led by coach Mario Arteaga, who played for Chivas de Guadalajara, Pumas UNAM, Leon and represented for the Mexican Olympic Team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Arteaga has had a successful coaching career and over the last few years he has been coaching in the Mexican first and second divisions.

Mexico's roster features a number of young, up-and-coming players, many of whom feature for the biggest clubs in the Mexican Primera.

Forward Antonio Salazar has appeared in three matches and scored two goals while on loan to Jaguares from Guadalajara during the 2010 Bicentenario.

Midfielder Jorge Daniel Hernández Govea has appeared in nine matches and scored one goal for Jaguares in the 2010 Bicentenario.

Forward Angel Sansores or Morelia played in the Copa Libertadores last month and saw time in the 2010 Bicentenario last week.

Midfielder Erik Vera had two assists in Wednesday's match against Richmond, and goalkeepers Alejandro Dautt and Miguel Centeno combined for three saves against the Kickers.

FRIENDLY HISTORY

Since their debut season in 2007, the RailHawks have annually squared off against some of the top teams in North America, and they've more than held their own in those contests. Entering Sunday's match, the RailHawks have a 5-4-2 all-time record in friendlies, all of which have been played at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Under Martin Rennie last season, the RailHawks went 4-1-0 in their five friendlies against the New England Revolution (W, 1-0), Honduras' CD Olimpia (L, 1-2), the Wilmington Hammerheads (W, 3-0), the Panama National Team (W, 1-0) and Mexico's Estudiantes Tecos (W, 2-1).

The RailHawks are seeking their first friendly win of 2010 on Sunday against Mexico. So far this year, the RailHawks have lost to New England (1-2) and tied the Montreal Impact (1-1).

LAST TIME OUT

The RailHawks suffered their first defeat of the season last Friday, falling 1-0 to NSC Minnesota at WakeMed Soccer Park. Minnesota's Danial Wasson scored the game's only goal in the 37th minute, the first goal Carolina allowed on the young season.

The RailHawks had a number of strong chances to even the match and took 11 shots by night's end, but Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren was up to the task and made five saves en route to shutting out Carolina.

The loss ended a nine-match unbeaten streak for the RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park. Carolina had not suffered a home defeat since June 27, 2009. During that span, Carolina went and 8-0-1 and outscored its opponents 28-3.

The home loss was only the third the RailHawks have suffered at WakeMed Soccer Park under Rennie, who is now 12-3-2 in league matches at home. It was also only the second time the RailHawks had ever been shut out at home under Rennie. The only other time was in a 0-0 tie against Portland on June 11, 2009.

FOLLOWING A HOME LOSS ...

Coming on the heels of a rare home loss, history indicates the RailHawks should fare well when they return to WakeMed Soccer Park this weekend.

The Railhawks seldom lose back-to-back matches. That has happened only twice under Rennie. In matches following a loss, Carolina is 4-2-1 and has outscored the opposition 11-6 dating back to the 2009 season.

The RailHawks have been shut out in consecutive matches only three times under Rennie, and it's never happened at home.

The RailHawks are 3-1-1 under Rennie in Sunday games, including 2-0-0 in home Sunday matches. Not only have the RailHawks won both Sunday matches at WakeMed Soccer Park, but they have outscored the opposition 5-0.

SAME LINEUP, NEW DAY

Martin Rennie has been rewriting the RailHawks record book since taking over the team before the 2009 season. Last week against Minnesota, he added another first to the list. It was achieved not by changing something, rather by keeping things the same.

The starting 11 against Minnesota was the same as the starting 11 that Rennie used against AC St. Louis in the season opener on April 10. Not only was that the first time Rennie has used the same lineup since joining the RailHawks, he believes it's the first time that's ever happened in his coaching career.

RICHARDSON RETURNS

Forward Gregory Richardson made his 2010 debut for the RailHawks in last week's match against Minnesota. Richardson, who scored six goals and had five assists in 14 matches last season, played the entire second half and created a few scoring chances for the RailHawks in his first match of the season.

NEXT UP

The RailHawks return to league play on Saturday, May 1, when they will face the Rochester Rhinos at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. They return to WakeMed Soccer Park on Friday May 14, when they will face the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

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