North Carolina FC Edges Richmond Kickers, 3-2

May 17, 2023 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – North Carolina FC News Release

CARY, N.C. – North Carolina FC come back from a two-goal deficit in the final half hour for a 3-2 win over the Richmond Kickers Wednesday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. NCFC improves 6-2-1 as they hit the road for over a month, not returning home until June 18.

After a turnover in NCFC’s defensive third Gomiero hit a screamer shot from outside the eighteen yard box. Later in the first half the Kickers had themselves up by two goals after a Gomiero tallied another goal.

Though the first half was being dominated by the Kickers, North Carolina FC willed themselves back into contention around the hour mark. Oalex Anderson started the scoring, capitalizing on a turnover from Richmond and blistering the back of the net. Soon after Louis Perez rebounded a crossed ball for an equalizer goal.

The defense put in extensive work in the second half to create chances for the offense. Finding their position in the back allowed NCFC to open up for opportunities on goal. Louis Perez found this opportunity after sending a picturesque cross into the box, where Garrett McLaughlin got a head to it for his first goal of the season, and a game-winner.

Quoting North Carolina FC:

Gustavo Fernandes:

On how the team came back down 2-0

“Just trust each other more and remember who we are as a team. We are better than what we put out in the first half and on Saturday and in the second half we showed that. We showed we believed in ourselves.”

Garrett McLaughlin

How he felt with his extended minutes

“It felt good to get some extended minutes. But whatever the team needs me to do I am willing to do. It may be a little tough at times. But we are at the top of the table and that is a great feeling.”

Head Coach John Bradford:

Thoughts on the comeback

“Obviously a tremendous comeback, being down 2-0 in the second half. The message at halftime was to just stay the course. We made some mistakes with those goals in the first half. But we knew the opportunities would come and just needed to get that first goal. Then the second goes in and you would almost be satisfied with a tie but then you look up and it’s 3-2 and [McLaughlin] gets his first goal of the year as well.”

Preparation for a quick turnaround to Sunday

“It’s a rivalry game. It’s a bus ride down to Charlotte. These guys don’t have to get up for any game, but they really won’t have to get up for this one on Sunday. We don’t have another game after that so we will…