August 13, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – North Carolina FC News Release
CARY, NC – North Carolina FC fell to the visiting Central Valley Fuego FC on Saturday evening, a single goal deciding the match result. Goalkeeper Nick Holliday recorded his fifth start of the season, making three saves throughout the match to bring his total to 12. A physical battle throughout the full 90 and into stoppage time, the contest saw seven yellow cards administered amongst the two sides. Nathan Smith tallied the goal for Central Valley Fuego.
“I didn’t think in the first half that we competed anywhere near the level that is required to win a game,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “The guys showed some character to continue to push forward and obviously create some decent chances, and a lot of these chances that we’re having are good crosses, guys open in the eighteen, and not being able to convert. These are chances that we need to be able to convert to win soccer games.”
Central Valley Fuego scored the lone goal of the contest in the 34th minute, capitalizing on a cross from Villyan Bijev to gain the upper hand over the North Carolina side. Finding Smith at the back post, the defender was able to tap home a one-timer on Bijev’s service, scoring his second goal of the season. NCFC worked to generate an opportunity at an equalizer, nearly netting a goal in the 82nd minute behind a close-range shot from Jaden Servania that was blocked by the Fuego goalkeeper. Later, in the 92nd minute, a second chance to tie the game came at the hands of a cross from Showkat Tahir and subsequent header from Shak Adams, whose redirection narrowly missed the net as time expired and Fuego picked up three points.
With seven days between today’s match and their next contest, NCFC will aim to re-enter the win column as they travel to face Union Omaha for the second time this season on Saturday, August 20 at Werner Park in Papillon, NE at 8 p.m. ET. The match will be available to stream on ESPN+, the last meeting between the two teams resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-4-2): Nicholas Holliday, Christian Lue Young, Britton Fischer, Jordan Skelton, Nelson Martinez (Pecka – 63′), Raheem Somersall, Luis Arriaga (Jaden Servania – 63′), Max Flick (Garrett McLaughlin – 63′), Oalex Anderson (Showkat Tahir – 75′), Nicolás Molina (Shak Adams – 75′)
Subs Not Used: Gustavo Fernandes, Samuel Terranova
CV (4-5-1): Ofek Antman, Michael Hornsby (Maxi Schenfeld – 56′), Sam…