MATCHDAY INFO:
NORTH CAROLINA FC VS. NASHVILLE SC
SAHLEN’S STADIUM AT WAKEMED SOCCER PARK
SATURDAY, JUNE 29 – 7:00 PM ET
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE UPDATES: @NORTHCAROLINAFC, #NCVNSH
CARY, N.C. (June 27, 2019) – North Carolina FC will put its six-match unbeaten run in USL Championship play to the test on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET when it hosts Nashville SC at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in a battle between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Approaching the halfway point of the regular season, NCFC finds itself in fifth place in the Eastern Conference (7W-2L-6D, 27 points) and is just two points removed from third place. Head coach Dave Sarachan’s team continued its good road form with a 2-2 draw at Saint Louis FC in its last match, and will now look to take advantage of two consecutive home matches.
Fifteen games into the season, NCFC has scored the third-most goals in the Eastern Conference (26) and its 13 goals conceded are tied for the third-fewest in the conference as well. Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis has followed up a stellar 2018 season with an equally impressive 2019 campaign in his second season with the club, posting a .788 save percentage, the second-highest among Eastern Conference goalkeepers. Offensively, NCFC has proven itself as a well-balanced group, with eight players scoring at least twice this season.
Nashville enters Saturday’s match with the second-highest goal tally in the Eastern Conference (30), and, like NCFC, brings a lengthy unbeaten streak to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The visitors have avoided defeat in seven consecutive league games, last losing on May 8 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Nashville is coming off a 3-3 draw at home against Ottawa Fury FC, in which former NCFC forward Daniel Rios scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season. Rios spent 2018 at NCFC on loan from Chivas Guadalajara, scoring 20 goals. The visitors’ roster also includes a pair of former UNC Tar Heels in forwards Alan Winn and Tucker Hume.
Nashville began a match against New York Red Bulls II Wednesday night, but the game was postponed because of adverse weather and will be replayed at a later date.
Last Time Out
NCFC used goals from forward Donovan Ewolo and midfielder Steven Miller to earn a 2-2 draw at Saint Louis FC last weekend, earning a valuable point away from home. With the result, NCFC improved to 4W-2L-3D in road matches, and its 15 points on the road are the third-most in the Eastern Conference.
In the 32nd minute, Miller provided a service from the left flank to Ewolo, who headed home for his second goal of the season, giving NCFC a 1-0 lead. NCFC took that lead into the halftime break, and even after Saint Louis equalized in the 47th minute, NCFC kept its cool and it was Miller’s 81st-minute strike that put the visitors back in the lead.
In the 88th minute, NCFC’s Ewolo went down with an injury but play continued as Saint Louis earned a penalty kick. Saint Louis’ Sam Fink scored from the penalty spot in the 91st minute, as the hosts made it a 2-2 game. Neither side could find a decisive goal from that point on, as NCFC secured a road draw.
Players to Watch
North Carolina FC – #31 Steven Miller
Over the years, Miller has been a valuable player at NCFC because of his versatility, playing as both a midfielder and a defender on both sides of the field. But this season, Miller has found a home in the midfield and has been a force in the NCFC attack. After his one-goal, one-assist performance against Saint Louis, Miller is first on the team in assists (four) and second in goals (five). In the Eastern Conference, only three players have recorded at least five goals and four assists, with Miller being one of them.
Nashville SC – #14 Daniel Rios
Rios endeared himself to NCFC fans a year ago when he scored a team-high 20 goals for the club during the 2018 season while on loan from Chivas Guadalajara of Liga MX. Following the completion of his loan, Rios left Chivas and signed with Nashville during the offseason. In his first year with Nashville, Rios has scored 10 goals. NCFC knows first-hand how dangerous Rios can be, and containing him will be a key to a good performance Saturday.
Looking Ahead
NCFC hosts Southern Derby rival Charlotte Independence on Thursday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. Since 2017, NCFC has won five straight competitive matches against Charlotte, outscoring the Independence 18-4 in that span. The match is part of North Carolina Football Club’s Independence Day Celebrations, which continue on July 5, when the North Carolina Courage host the Houston Dash at 7:30 p.m.
The NCFC-Charlotte match will be followed by a fireworks show and both the game and fireworks will be broadcast on network television on FOX 50. The Courage-Dash match will also feature a fireworks show.
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MATCHDAY INFO:
NORTH CAROLINA FC VS. NASHVILLE SC
SAHLEN’S STADIUM AT WAKEMED SOCCER PARK
SATURDAY, JUNE 29 – 7:00 PM ET
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE UPDATES: @NORTHCAROLINAFC, #NCVNSH
CARY, N.C. (June 27, 2019) – North Carolina FC will put its six-match unbeaten run in USL Championship play to the test on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET when it hosts Nashville SC at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in a battle between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Approaching the halfway point of the regular season, NCFC finds itself in fifth place in the Eastern Conference (7W-2L-6D, 27 points) and is just two points removed from third place. Head coach Dave Sarachan’s team continued its good road form with a 2-2 draw at Saint Louis FC in its last match, and will now look to take advantage of two consecutive home matches.
Fifteen games into the season, NCFC has scored the third-most goals in the Eastern Conference (26) and its 13 goals conceded are tied for the third-fewest in the conference as well. Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis has followed up a stellar 2018 season with an equally impressive 2019 campaign in his second season with the club, posting a .788 save percentage, the second-highest among Eastern Conference goalkeepers. Offensively, NCFC has proven itself as a well-balanced group, with eight players scoring at least twice this season.
Nashville enters Saturday’s match with the second-highest goal tally in the Eastern Conference (30), and, like NCFC, brings a lengthy unbeaten streak to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The visitors have avoided defeat in seven consecutive league games, last losing on May 8 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Nashville is coming off a 3-3 draw at home against Ottawa Fury FC, in which former NCFC forward Daniel Rios scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season. Rios spent 2018 at NCFC on loan from Chivas Guadalajara, scoring 20 goals. The visitors’ roster also includes a pair of former UNC Tar Heels in forwards Alan Winn and Tucker Hume.
Nashville began a match against New York Red Bulls II Wednesday night, but the game was postponed because of adverse weather and will be replayed at a later date.
Last Time Out
NCFC used goals from forward Donovan Ewolo and midfielder Steven Miller to earn a 2-2 draw at Saint Louis FC last weekend, earning a valuable point away from home. With the result, NCFC improved to 4W-2L-3D in road matches, and its 15 points on the road are the third-most in the Eastern Conference.
In the 32nd minute, Miller provided a service from the left flank to Ewolo, who headed home for his second goal of the season, giving NCFC a 1-0 lead. NCFC took that lead into the halftime break, and even after Saint Louis equalized in the 47th minute, NCFC kept its cool and it was Miller’s 81st-minute strike that put the visitors back in the lead.
In the 88th minute, NCFC’s Ewolo went down with an injury but play continued as Saint Louis earned a penalty kick. Saint Louis’ Sam Fink scored from the penalty spot in the 91st minute, as the hosts made it a 2-2 game. Neither side could find a decisive goal from that point on, as NCFC secured a road draw.
Players to Watch
North Carolina FC – #31 Steven Miller
Over the years, Miller has been a valuable player at NCFC because of his versatility, playing as both a midfielder and a defender on both sides of the field. But this season, Miller has found a home in the midfield and has been a force in the NCFC attack. After his one-goal, one-assist performance against Saint Louis, Miller is first on the team in assists (four) and second in goals (five). In the Eastern Conference, only three players have recorded at least five goals and four assists, with Miller being one of them.
Nashville SC – #14 Daniel Rios
Rios endeared himself to NCFC fans a year ago when he scored a team-high 20 goals for the club during the 2018 season while on loan from Chivas Guadalajara of Liga MX. Following the completion of his loan, Rios left Chivas and signed with Nashville during the offseason. In his first year with Nashville, Rios has scored 10 goals. NCFC knows first-hand how dangerous Rios can be, and containing him will be a key to a good performance Saturday.
Looking Ahead
NCFC hosts Southern Derby rival Charlotte Independence on Thursday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. Since 2017, NCFC has won five straight competitive matches against Charlotte, outscoring the Independence 18-4 in that span. The match is part of North Carolina Football Club’s Independence Day Celebrations, which continue on July 5, when the North Carolina Courage host the Houston Dash at 7:30 p.m.
The NCFC-Charlotte match will be followed by a fireworks show and both the game and fireworks will be broadcast on network television on FOX 50. The Courage-Dash match will also feature a fireworks show.
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