USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks fall 2-1 to CD Olimpia

Published on March 27, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. - Despite a 2-1 loss in a friendly against CD Olimpia on Friday night at WakeMed Soccer Park, Martin Rennie said his Carolina RailHawks are right on schedule with their season opener two weeks away.

"I'd say we're on schedule. We're still two weeks away from the season. I don't think we're going to play any team as good as that," Rennie said of the 21-time Honduran league champions who are currently atop the table again. "They were a good team. I don't know about you guys, but I thought the first half, the standard of play was really good."

The RailHawks held an 11-5 advantage in shots, and they saw a number of chances go astray throughout the first half.

In the fourth minute, after the ball was knocked around the penalty area, Carolina's Luke Kremalmeyer had a look from 12 yards out, but he didn't hit the ball cleanly and it went wide left.

Carolina manufactured two more chances in the 13th minute. Josh Gardner hit a looping shot from 18 yards. It appeared like it would sail over the frame, but it dipped at the last second and required a last-second punch from Olimpia goalkeeper Donis Escobar. On the ensuing corner kick, Kupono Low found Mark Schulte on the back post, but his header went wide right.

Escobar, who made six saves in the first half before giving way to Alvaro Juanes, came up big again for Los Leones in the 22nd minute. Carolina's Joseph Kabwe intercepted an errant pass just outside the penalty area and found Sallieu Bundu unmarked near the penalty spot. Rojas made a sprawling save on Bundu's left-footed blast to keep the match scoreless.

Olimpia's Roger Rojas broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. Rojas picked up a loose ball and broke in on the RailHawks goal untouched. He easily buried the chance at the far post.

"Considering they're in the middle of their season and we definitely took the game seriously, I thought we played really well," Rennie said. "We were unfortunate to be behind at halftime and I think we certainly deserved to be back in the game in the second half."

Bundu, who had several strong chances in the first half, was able to convert his first chance of the second half.

In the 56th minute, Carolina midfielder Kupono Low flung a shot from 25 yards out that took a deflection in the box right to Bundu, who easily slotted the ball into the goal from six yards away.

"First half, I had two chances. I came in the second half and said, ‘I need to get a goal,'" Bundu said. "I sat there in the locker room thinking I should have had one. And I decided in the second half, whatever chance I get, I need to make it."

But it didn't hold up.

In the 63rd minute, Olimpia's Jaime Rosales scored the eventual game winner. Rosales cracked a free kick from just outside the penalty area over a four-man Carolina wall, and the shot kissed off the near post and past Carolina goalkeeper Eric Reed.

The RailHawks nearly equalized again in the 90th minute, but Brian Plotkins' blast from 12 yards was turned away by Olimpia's Alvaro Juanes, and the match was called seconds later.

The RailHawks will next face the USL Second Division's Richmond Kickers on April 4 in Richmond, Va. It will be their final tune-up before opening the USL First Division season against the Minnesota Thunder on April 11 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



USL First Division Stories from March 27, 2009


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.

OurSports Central