North Carolina FC 2 – 3 Memphis 901 FC
CARY, NC— In what was effectively a must-win game, North Carolina FC took on Memphis 901 FC. The two teams were originally slated to play in Cary on August 26th, but the match was postponed in protest against ongoing systemic racial injustice. With the support from both clubs and the USL, Memphis players chose to stay in Memphis to tour the Civil Rights Museum and reflect on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic “I have a dream” speech.
North Carolina head coach Dave Sarachan tried a new look up front, giving the nod to Hadji Barry. The move nearly paid off in the first three minutes when Barry got behind the Memphis defense and blasted a right-footed shot from the middle of the box, but his attempt was just off-frame.
The pitch seemed to tilt NCFC’s way through most of the first half, with the home team holding 62% possession. In the 28th minute, midfielder Manny Perez got on the end of a perfectly weighted pass from Barry, but Memphis goalkeeper Jimmy Hague was there to deny his chance.
Three minutes later, and against the run of play, Memphis midfielder Rafael Mentzingen collected a through pass and took on North Carolina defender Akeem Ward 1-v-1. Mentzingen drove deep in the NCFC box, swung past Ward and uncorked a shot that goalkeeper Alex Tambakis had no chance on. Just before the hydration break, Memphis grabbed the 1-0 lead.
North Carolina kept the pressure on Memphis through the remainder of the first half. In the 42nd minute, midfielders Pecka and Dre Fortune combined to create one of the Dead Whales’ best chances of the game, but Fortune’s shot skidded wide of the post.
NCFC came out after halftime looking for their first break of the game, with Perez, Fortune, and Barry teaming up to keep the Memphis defense busy. Their efforts created some close looks at goal, but the finish continued to let them down.
Holding the one goal advantage and knowing there is a less than 72-hour turnaround, Memphis shored up the defense, absorbing the NCFC attack and looking for an opportunity to counter.
That opportunity came in the 75th minute when Cal Jennings worked himself loose from North Carolina defender Alex Comsia and slid the ball to Tommy McCabe. The former NCFC midfielder sprung Matthew Hundley sprinting down the side. Hundley, who had just come into the game, carried the ball into the North Carolina box and cut toward the inside before beating Tambakis with a hard shot to the bottom left corner.
NCFC pulled a goal back in the late minutes of regulation. Ben Speas 86th minute corner kick found forward Robert Kristo at the top of the ladder in front of the goal. Kristo nodded the ball past Hague to make the score 2-1.
After the goal, North Carolina swarmed Memphis. With nine minutes of stoppage time added, NCFC fought for every loose ball. Manny Perez stretched out a leg to keep possession of the ball at the edge of the 18-yard box and tapped the ball back to Albadawi. The captain spotted Conor Donovan in the box and gently lifted the ball toward him. The centerback headed the ball across the goal, finding D.J. Taylor who nodded the ball into the bottom corner. In the span of five minutes, NCFC had clawed their way back, looking to secure at least a point on the night.
But soccer is a long game, and with North Carolina seeming to have a choke hold on the match, Memphis reclaimed all three points in the 98th minute. It was Hundley again serving up heartbreak to NCFC with an incredible effort in the box that beat Tambakis to the top corner.
With Memphis coach Tim Mulqueen going apoplectic on the sideline, looking for the final whistle, North Carolina set up for one more run. But they couldn’t capitalize and the game ended after 101 minutes with a 3-2 win for Memphis.
Final Notes
- Team captain and homegrown player Nazmi Albadawi made his 150th appearance for the club.
- Akeem Ward was in the starting lineup for North Carolina after serving a two-game suspension for kicking Charlotte Independence player Clay Dimick in the neck in their 1-0 loss on August 26th.
- Next up is a quick turnaround for both teams as they meet back at Sahlen’s Stadium on Sunday, September 13.
Lineups
North Carolina FC: A. Tambakis; D.J. Taylor, C. Donovan, A. Comsia, A. Ward; Pecka (B. Speas 70’), S. Miller (M. Lomis 63’), D. Fortune, N. Albadawi ©, M. Perez; H. Barry (R. Kristo 77’)
Memphis 901 FC: J. Hague; R. Buckmaster, M. Burch ©, Z. Carroll, L. Doyle; T. McCabe, K. Marsh-Brown (R. Gonzalez 64’), J. Koffi (L. Paul 53’), J. Baxter (D. Muckette 53’), R. Mentzingen (M. Hundley 71’); B. Allen (C. Jennings 53’)
Score:
North Carolina FC: 2
Memphis 901 FC: 3
Goals:
North Carolina FC: R. Kristo, 86’ (B. Speas); D.J. Taylor 91’ (C. Donovan)
Memphis 901 FC: R. Mentzingen 30’ (J. Baxter); M. Hundley 75’ (T. McCabe); M. Hundley 98’ (Z. Carroll)
Discipline:
North Carolina FC: Pecka YC, 45+1’; D. Fortune YC, 64’; D.J. Taylor YC, 90+7
Memphis 901 FC: J. Baxter YC, 36’; L. Paul YC, 55’; C. Jennings YC, 89’
North Carolina FC
USL Championship
