North Carolina FC 0 –1 Charlotte Independence
CARY, NC— As the oppressive heat and humidity lifted from Cary, NC this week, the importance of every upcoming game for North Carolina FC weighed heavier. Facing the Charlotte Independence in a crucial Southern Derby matchup, there was no question that NCFC needed to collect every possible point. Going into the game, North Carolina was chasing Charlotte for second place and the final playoff spot in Group G.
Like any good derby on a chilly evening, this one got heated as the half progressed. Possession was even as the teams engaged in an end-to-end track meet. North Carolina had a good chance to grab the early lead in the 17th minute when defender Conor Donovan got his head to a Dre Fortune’s free kick. But Donovan didn’t get enough behind the attempt and Brandon Miller was able to make the save.
Things started getting chippy between the two sides, but referee Matt Franz had done well to keep things under control until late in the first half.
In the 44th minute, Charlotte’s Dane Kelly came in with a vicious slew foot tackle that sent North Carolina defender D.J. Taylor airborne, landing hard on his back. That earned Kelly a straight red, and nearly ignited a brawl. While Charlotte players swarmed Franz, North Carolina players checked on Taylor, who was being tended to by the training staff.
The teams went into their locker rooms at halftime deadlocked 0-0, but it wasn’t without further discipline. Just after blowing the whistle, we got the final account of the Kelly foul and ensuing brouhaha. Franz issued yellow cards to Charlotte’s Enzo Martinez and Brandon Miller, plus one for NCFC captain Nazmi Albadawi.
As it has become a habit for the Dead Whales, they found themselves chasing the game in the 51st minute. Enzo Martinez continued to make a nuisance of himself and drew a foul on Marios Lomis. On the ensuing free kick, Jake Areman lofted the ball right to the head of Aaron Maund, who redirected it past NCFC goalkeeper Alex Tambakis.
With a referee at the end of his tether with the shennanigans, the cards started coming out fast and furious. In the 66th minute, Duke Lacroix was shown the card for a foul on Manny Perez that didn’t really look like there was much to it. A minute later, Albadawi lightly tugged Brunallergene Etou making a run, causing Franz to issue a second yellow to the North Carolina captain, resulting in his ejection from the game. Before the night was over, Franz would issue nine yellow cards, plus the straight red to Kelly.
Now playing ten men apiece, and with the visitors clogging the passing channels, it was going to be an uphill climb for North Carolina to get back into the game. Unfortunately for Dave Sarachan’s team, they were again plagued by an inability to finish off their chances, outshooting the Independence 13-9.
Charlotte came within inches of doubling their lead in the 68th minute when Luke Haakenson served a perfect ball in to Derek Gebhard, who was unmarked at the far post. Gebhard got up for the header but Tambakis was right there to absorb the shot.
The frustration continued for NCFC when second half sub Daniele Proch was hacked near the end line in the penalty area without getting a call from Franz. Their best chance to pull even came in the 89th minute when Graham Smith lined up a blast toward the far post that Brandon Miller was just able to get down to parry it away.
In the end, it was another disappointing night that saw North Carolina lose more ground to Charlotte and Birmingham in Group G.
Final Notes
- Next up for North Carolina is a visit to Memphis on September 23rd and then on to Birmingham on the 26th.
- With just four games left in the regular season, Dave Sarachan’s club is now facing must-win situations virtually every time they take the field. After Saturday night’s loss, they trail Charlotte by nine points with a game in hand.
Lineups
North Carolina FC: A. Tambakis; D.J. Taylor (G. Smith 86’), C. Donovan, S. Brotherton, A. Ward; Pecka (B. Speas 77’), N. Albadawi ©, D.Fortune; M. Perez, H. Barry (D. Proch 86’); M. Lomis (R. Kristo 70’)
Charlotte Independence: B. Miller; C. Dimmick, A. Maund, H. Roberts, D. Lacroix, B. Etou, J. Areman, L. Hakkenson (V. Sabella 83’), E. Martinez ©, D. Kelly, R. Ortiz (D. Gebhard 46’)
Score:
North Carolina FC: 0
Charlotte Independence: 1
Goals:
North Carolina FC: none
Charlotte Independence: A. Maund 51’ (J. Areman)
Discipline:
North Carolina FC: N. Albadawi, YC 45+1’ YC/RC 67’; D.J. Taylor, YC 50’; C. Donovan, YC 69’; D. Fortune, YC 73’
Charlotte Independence: D. Kelly, RC 44’; E. Martinez, Y 45+1’; B. Miller, YC 45+1; D. Lacroix, YC 66’
