Cary, NC (June 29, 2019) – North Carolina FC used a first-half goal from Ben Speas and a stout defensive performance to defeat Nashville SC 1-0 Saturday night at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, extending its unbeaten run in USL Championship play to seven matches.
The win was NCFC’s third in the month of June, and head coach Dave Sarachan’s team now holds fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 8W-2L-6D record (30 points)
“It was a really massive result for us,” Sarachan said. “Nashville, I respect. They’re a good team. We’re getting thinner. We had to really dig in today. I thought our first half was outstanding in terms of our defensive posture and also with the ball in our possession.”
Facing the second-highest offense in the Eastern Conference, the NCFC defense pitched its six shutout of the year, as Nashville was held scoreless for just the second time this season.
Out of the gates, NCFC looked intent on being the first team to score. In just the fourth minute, right back DJ Taylor forced opposing goalkeeper Connor Sparrow into a fingertip save, and center back Sam Brotherton nearly scored with a header off a corner kick in the 30th minute.
Eventually, NCFC’s persistence paid off thanks to Speas. A threat in the midfield, Speas started the NCFC attack in the middle of the park before distributing to left back Aaron Guillen out on the flank. Guillen returned the favor and set up Speas, who deposited his shot into the right corner of the net.
For Speas, the goal was his first since March 9, when NCFC defeated Louisville City FC in its season opener. Guillen’s assist was his first of the season.
NCFC took the one-goal lead into the halftime break, and would put together a strong defensive performance in the second half to preserve its advantage.
Even once center back Alex Comsia was forced to exit in the 49th minute due to injury, the home side kept its shape defensively, as rookie defender Caleb Duvernay filled in. While active in the final third as the game progressed, Nashville struggled to seriously trouble NCFC. The visitors’ best chance came in the 83rd minute, as forward Daniel Rios’ free kick forced NCFC’s Alex Tambakis into a save, which the Greek goalkeeper made without trouble.
From there on, NCFC saw out the result to pick up its fourth league win at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, remaining unbeaten on its home field.
Fact To Know
With Speas’ second goal of the season, nine players have now scored multiple goals in USL Championship play for NCFC.
Notes
– NCFC extended its unbeaten run in USL Championship play to seven matches, its longest against league opponents since the club went unbeaten in its final seven matches of the 2017 NASL regular season.
– NCFC has now recorded wins against teams placed first (Tampa Bay Rowdies), second (New York Red Bulls II) and fourth (Nashville SC) in the Eastern Conference standings this season.
– Between USL Championship and U.S. Open Cup play, NCFC is unbeaten in nine home matches (6W-0L-3D).
– NCFC’s youth-to-pro pipeline clearly illustrated Saturday, as NCFC Academy products Dre Fortune and DJ Taylor each started alongside former NCFC U23 standout Alex Comsia. Caleb Duvernay – an NCFC Youth, NCFC Academy and NCFC U23 alumnus – was a second-half substitute.
– Midfielder Nazmi Albadawi missed Saturday’s match due to personal reasons.
– Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis recorded his fifth clean sheet of 2019.
– Rookie midfielder Austin Panchot made his first league start of the season.
– Midfielder Austin da Luz appeared as a second-half substitute, seeing the field for the first time since May 29 against the Florida Soccer Soldiers in the Open Cup and appearing in a league match for the first time since a 3-1 win at the Charlotte Independence on April 20.
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. For tickets and information please visit www.northcarolinafc.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Box Score
NCFC (4-2-3-1): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia (Caleb Duvernay, 49’), DJ Taylor; Graham Smith, Dre Fortune; Steven Miller ©, Ben Speas, Austin Panchot (Austin da Luz, 80’); Donovan Ewolo
Subs not used: Darrin MacLeod, Robert Kristo, Duval Wapiwo, Victor Igbekoyi
NSH (4-4-2): Connor Sparrow; Darnell King, Bradley Bourgeois, Liam Doyle, Justin Davis; Lebo Moloto (Kharlton Belmar, 70’), Bolu Akinyode, Michael Reed ©, Kosuke Kimura (Alan Winn, 39’); Daniel Rios, Cameron Lancaster (Ropapa Mensah, 77’)
Subs not used: Matt Pickens, Taylor Washington, Matt Lagrassa, Vinnie Vermeer,
Score:
NCFC: 1
NSH: 0
Goals:
NCFC: Ben Speas (Aaron Guillen, 30’)
NSH: —
Cautions:
NCFC: —
NSH: —
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NSH: —
Attendance: 3,662
###
Cary, NC (June 29, 2019) – North Carolina FC used a first-half goal from Ben Speas and a stout defensive performance to defeat Nashville SC 1-0 Saturday night at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, extending its unbeaten run in USL Championship play to seven matches.
The win was NCFC’s third in the month of June, and head coach Dave Sarachan’s team now holds fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 8W-2L-6D record (30 points)
“It was a really massive result for us,” Sarachan said. “Nashville, I respect. They’re a good team. We’re getting thinner. We had to really dig in today. I thought our first half was outstanding in terms of our defensive posture and also with the ball in our possession.”
Facing the second-highest offense in the Eastern Conference, the NCFC defense pitched its six shutout of the year, as Nashville was held scoreless for just the second time this season.
Out of the gates, NCFC looked intent on being the first team to score. In just the fourth minute, right back DJ Taylor forced opposing goalkeeper Connor Sparrow into a fingertip save, and center back Sam Brotherton nearly scored with a header off a corner kick in the 30th minute.
Eventually, NCFC’s persistence paid off thanks to Speas. A threat in the midfield, Speas started the NCFC attack in the middle of the park before distributing to left back Aaron Guillen out on the flank. Guillen returned the favor and set up Speas, who deposited his shot into the right corner of the net.
For Speas, the goal was his first since March 9, when NCFC defeated Louisville City FC in its season opener. Guillen’s assist was his first of the season.
NCFC took the one-goal lead into the halftime break, and would put together a strong defensive performance in the second half to preserve its advantage.
Even once center back Alex Comsia was forced to exit in the 49th minute due to injury, the home side kept its shape defensively, as rookie defender Caleb Duvernay filled in. While active in the final third as the game progressed, Nashville struggled to seriously trouble NCFC. The visitors’ best chance came in the 83rd minute, as forward Daniel Rios’ free kick forced NCFC’s Alex Tambakis into a save, which the Greek goalkeeper made without trouble.
From there on, NCFC saw out the result to pick up its fourth league win at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, remaining unbeaten on its home field.
Fact To Know
With Speas’ second goal of the season, nine players have now scored multiple goals in USL Championship play for NCFC.
Notes
– NCFC extended its unbeaten run in USL Championship play to seven matches, its longest against league opponents since the club went unbeaten in its final seven matches of the 2017 NASL regular season.
– NCFC has now recorded wins against teams placed first (Tampa Bay Rowdies), second (New York Red Bulls II) and fourth (Nashville SC) in the Eastern Conference standings this season.
– Between USL Championship and U.S. Open Cup play, NCFC is unbeaten in nine home matches (6W-0L-3D).
– NCFC’s youth-to-pro pipeline clearly illustrated Saturday, as NCFC Academy products Dre Fortune and DJ Taylor each started alongside former NCFC U23 standout Alex Comsia. Caleb Duvernay – an NCFC Youth, NCFC Academy and NCFC U23 alumnus – was a second-half substitute.
– Midfielder Nazmi Albadawi missed Saturday’s match due to personal reasons.
– Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis recorded his fifth clean sheet of 2019.
– Rookie midfielder Austin Panchot made his first league start of the season.
– Midfielder Austin da Luz appeared as a second-half substitute, seeing the field for the first time since May 29 against the Florida Soccer Soldiers in the Open Cup and appearing in a league match for the first time since a 3-1 win at the Charlotte Independence on April 20.
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. For tickets and information please visit www.northcarolinafc.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Box Score
NCFC (4-2-3-1): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia (Caleb Duvernay, 49’), DJ Taylor; Graham Smith, Dre Fortune; Steven Miller ©, Ben Speas, Austin Panchot (Austin da Luz, 80’); Donovan Ewolo
Subs not used: Darrin MacLeod, Robert Kristo, Duval Wapiwo, Victor Igbekoyi
NSH (4-4-2): Connor Sparrow; Darnell King, Bradley Bourgeois, Liam Doyle, Justin Davis; Lebo Moloto (Kharlton Belmar, 70’), Bolu Akinyode, Michael Reed ©, Kosuke Kimura (Alan Winn, 39’); Daniel Rios, Cameron Lancaster (Ropapa Mensah, 77’)
Subs not used: Matt Pickens, Taylor Washington, Matt Lagrassa, Vinnie Vermeer,
Score:
NCFC: 1
NSH: 0
Goals:
NCFC: Ben Speas (Aaron Guillen, 30’)
NSH: —
Cautions:
NCFC: —
NSH: —
Ejections:
NCFC: —
NSH: —
Attendance: 3,662
###
