PITTSBURGH, Pa. (July 20, 2019) – Despite a strong performance by goalkeeper Alex Tambakis and a second-half push, North Carolina FC was narrowly defeated 1-0 Saturday night by Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium.
Following the result, NCFC is now 9W-4L-7D on the season and remains in fourth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference.
NCFC’s first true scoring chance came about in the 26th minute, as midfielder Graham Smith’s effort from the edge of the 18-yard box narrowly bounced wide left.
Pittsburgh opened up the scoring in the 27th minute with a goal through Robbie Mertz. However, that was the only time the hosts found a way past NCFC’s Tambakis, who tied his season-high with six saves.
Down a goal following the halftime break, NCFC created multiple scoring opportunities as the second half progressed. After good hold-up play by forward Robert Kristo, midfielder Ben Speas saw his shot on target saved by Pittsburgh’s Kyle Morton in the 48th minute.
After coming on as a second-half substitute in the 62nd minute, NCFC’s Donovan Ewolo continuously caused problems for Pittsburgh’s backline. In the 70th minute, the Cameroonian forward was in on goal but had his shot deflected at the last moment by Ryan James of the Riverhounds.
In the 82nd minute, the match was delayed for 37 minutes due to inclement weather. Following the restart, Tambakis made his biggest stop of the night when he denied Pittsburgh’s Kenardo Forbes from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to keep NCFC in the match.
Despite a late push, NCFC couldn’t find an equalizer.
Notes
– Alex Tambakis’ six saves tied his season-high.
– NCFC outshot Pittsburgh 9-8 in the second half.
– NCFC midfielder Ben Speas recorded two shots on goal.
– NCFC’s youth-to-pro pipeline was evident on Saturday, as NCFC Academy products DJ Taylor and Dre Fortune were named in the starting lineup, as was former NCFC U23 standout Nazmi Albadawi.
– Yamikani Chester, Donovan Ewolo and Duval Wapiwo appeared as second-half substitutes for NCFC.
Looking Ahead
NCFC returns to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park when it hosts Atlanta United 2 on Saturday, July 27, at 7 p.m. ET. The last time the two teams met in Cary, NCFC earned a 4-0 victory on May 25, 2018. For tickets and information please visit www.northcarolinafc.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Box Score:
PIT (5-1-3-1): Kyle Morton; Ryan James, Tobi Adewole, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Joseph Greenspan, Jordan Dover; Kenardo Forbes ©; Robbie Mertz, Steevan Dos Santos, Kevin Kerr (Sammy Kahsai, 63’); Neco Brett (Christian Volesky, 63’)
Subs not used: Uchenna Uzo, Mouhamed Dabo, Austin Pack, Noah Franke, Anthony Velarde
NCFC (3-4-2-1): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen, Sam Brotherton, Victor Igbekoyi; Steven Miller ©, Nazmi Albadawi, Graham Smith (Duval Wapiwo, 90+1’), DJ Taylor; Ben Speas, Dre Fortune (Yamikani Chester, 62’); Robert Kristo (Donovan Ewolo, 62’)
Subs not used: Darrin MacLeod, Austin Panchot, Timmy Mehl
Score:
PIT: 1
NCFC: —
Goals:
PIT: Robbie Mertz (Neco Brett, 27’)
NCFC:
Cautions:
PIT: Steevan Dos Sanots, 75’
NCFC: —
Ejections:
PIT: —
NCFC: —
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (July 20, 2019) – Despite a strong performance by goalkeeper Alex Tambakis and a second-half push, North Carolina FC was narrowly defeated 1-0 Saturday night by Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium.
Following the result, NCFC is now 9W-4L-7D on the season and remains in fourth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference.
NCFC’s first true scoring chance came about in the 26th minute, as midfielder Graham Smith’s effort from the edge of the 18-yard box narrowly bounced wide left.
Pittsburgh opened up the scoring in the 27th minute with a goal through Robbie Mertz. However, that was the only time the hosts found a way past NCFC’s Tambakis, who tied his season-high with six saves.
Down a goal following the halftime break, NCFC created multiple scoring opportunities as the second half progressed. After good hold-up play by forward Robert Kristo, midfielder Ben Speas saw his shot on target saved by Pittsburgh’s Kyle Morton in the 48th minute.
After coming on as a second-half substitute in the 62nd minute, NCFC’s Donovan Ewolo continuously caused problems for Pittsburgh’s backline. In the 70th minute, the Cameroonian forward was in on goal but had his shot deflected at the last moment by Ryan James of the Riverhounds.
In the 82nd minute, the match was delayed for 37 minutes due to inclement weather. Following the restart, Tambakis made his biggest stop of the night when he denied Pittsburgh’s Kenardo Forbes from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to keep NCFC in the match.
Despite a late push, NCFC couldn’t find an equalizer.
Notes
– Alex Tambakis’ six saves tied his season-high.
– NCFC outshot Pittsburgh 9-8 in the second half.
– NCFC midfielder Ben Speas recorded two shots on goal.
– NCFC’s youth-to-pro pipeline was evident on Saturday, as NCFC Academy products DJ Taylor and Dre Fortune were named in the starting lineup, as was former NCFC U23 standout Nazmi Albadawi.
– Yamikani Chester, Donovan Ewolo and Duval Wapiwo appeared as second-half substitutes for NCFC.
Looking Ahead
NCFC returns to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park when it hosts Atlanta United 2 on Saturday, July 27, at 7 p.m. ET. The last time the two teams met in Cary, NCFC earned a 4-0 victory on May 25, 2018. For tickets and information please visit www.northcarolinafc.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Box Score:
PIT (5-1-3-1): Kyle Morton; Ryan James, Tobi Adewole, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Joseph Greenspan, Jordan Dover; Kenardo Forbes ©; Robbie Mertz, Steevan Dos Santos, Kevin Kerr (Sammy Kahsai, 63’); Neco Brett (Christian Volesky, 63’)
Subs not used: Uchenna Uzo, Mouhamed Dabo, Austin Pack, Noah Franke, Anthony Velarde
NCFC (3-4-2-1): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen, Sam Brotherton, Victor Igbekoyi; Steven Miller ©, Nazmi Albadawi, Graham Smith (Duval Wapiwo, 90+1’), DJ Taylor; Ben Speas, Dre Fortune (Yamikani Chester, 62’); Robert Kristo (Donovan Ewolo, 62’)
Subs not used: Darrin MacLeod, Austin Panchot, Timmy Mehl
Score:
PIT: 1
NCFC: —
Goals:
PIT: Robbie Mertz (Neco Brett, 27’)
NCFC:
Cautions:
PIT: Steevan Dos Sanots, 75’
NCFC: —
Ejections:
PIT: —
NCFC: —
