In the past, North Carolina FC’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup triumphs against MLS clubs have all come at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Now NCFC has the opportunity to show its worth against MLS competition on the road. Head Coach Colin Clarke’s team travels up the East Coast to take on D.C. United in the fourth round of the Open Cup on Tuesday and is ready to fight for the club’s first ever victory against an MLS side away from home.
Since first playing in the competition in 2007, NCFC is 21-10 all time in the Open Cup, with six of those wins coming against MLS clubs in Cary. The upcoming match will be NCFC’s first away from home against MLS competition since it faced Real Salt Lake in the 2012 quarterfinals.
“Open Cup’s always been a fun competition for us,” Clarke said. “Now, it’s one of the first times we’ve gone on the road against an MLS team since Real Salt Lake. It’s going to be tough.”
However, the upcoming journey to Boyds, Md., comes at a good time for NCFC, which has won four of its last six games, a run that includes second and third-round Open Cup wins against Lansdowne Bhoys (3-0) and the Ocean City Nor’easters (4-1).
Following NCFC’s victory against the Nor’easters in May, co-captain Austin da Luz said he was looking forward to the possibility of hosting an MLS side in the competition. While the fourth-round draw resulted in a road match for NCFC, da Luz is still excited about what’s at stake.
“It’ll be great,” he said. “Anytime you get to play against a team from MLS it’s a treat, and we’re just looking to prove that we can play at that level.”
On a personal level, one of da Luz’s teammates is eager to show that he, too, can shine against a high level of competition.
In his first year with NCFC, Dutch striker Marios Lomis has been on a tear recently, scoring four goals in his last five games. Between USL and Open Cup competition, Lomis is averaging a goal every 66.4 minutes of action in his first season with the club.
“That’s obviously a good feeling for a striker,” he said. “So, I’m finding my rhythm, getting more minutes – obviously that’s what I want – and we’re getting into a good rhythm with the team, so that’s good.”
The NCFC target man is now hoping to make a similar impact against D.C. United.
“Personally for me, first year as a professional in the States, I’m very curious about how our level is against an MLS team,” Lomis said. “I hope they bring their good players. I’m really excited for it.”
The matchup also gives da Luz the opportunity to face one of his former clubs. In 2011, da Luz made 14 appearances and five starts for D.C. United.
“For me personally, it will be cool to play against them having spent a little bit of time there,” da Luz said. “So, it’ll be fun. We’re all looking forward to it.”
In the past, North Carolina FC’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup triumphs against MLS clubs have all come at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Now NCFC has the opportunity to show its worth against MLS competition on the road. Head Coach Colin Clarke’s team travels up the East Coast to take on D.C. United in the fourth round of the Open Cup on Tuesday and is ready to fight for the club’s first ever victory against an MLS side away from home.
Since first playing in the competition in 2007, NCFC is 21-10 all time in the Open Cup, with six of those wins coming against MLS clubs in Cary. The upcoming match will be NCFC’s first away from home against MLS competition since it faced Real Salt Lake in the 2012 quarterfinals.
“Open Cup’s always been a fun competition for us,” Clarke said. “Now, it’s one of the first times we’ve gone on the road against an MLS team since Real Salt Lake. It’s going to be tough.”
However, the upcoming journey to Boyds, Md., comes at a good time for NCFC, which has won four of its last six games, a run that includes second and third-round Open Cup wins against Lansdowne Bhoys (3-0) and the Ocean City Nor’easters (4-1).
Following NCFC’s victory against the Nor’easters in May, co-captain Austin da Luz said he was looking forward to the possibility of hosting an MLS side in the competition. While the fourth-round draw resulted in a road match for NCFC, da Luz is still excited about what’s at stake.
“It’ll be great,” he said. “Anytime you get to play against a team from MLS it’s a treat, and we’re just looking to prove that we can play at that level.”
On a personal level, one of da Luz’s teammates is eager to show that he, too, can shine against a high level of competition.
In his first year with NCFC, Dutch striker Marios Lomis has been on a tear recently, scoring four goals in his last five games. Between USL and Open Cup competition, Lomis is averaging a goal every 66.4 minutes of action in his first season with the club.
“That’s obviously a good feeling for a striker,” he said. “So, I’m finding my rhythm, getting more minutes – obviously that’s what I want – and we’re getting into a good rhythm with the team, so that’s good.”
The NCFC target man is now hoping to make a similar impact against D.C. United.
“Personally for me, first year as a professional in the States, I’m very curious about how our level is against an MLS team,” Lomis said. “I hope they bring their good players. I’m really excited for it.”
The matchup also gives da Luz the opportunity to face one of his former clubs. In 2011, da Luz made 14 appearances and five starts for D.C. United.
“For me personally, it will be cool to play against them having spent a little bit of time there,” da Luz said. “So, it’ll be fun. We’re all looking forward to it.”
