2020 North Carolina FC season

Last updated

North Carolina FC
2020 season
Owner Stephen Malik
Head coach Dave Sarachan
Stadium Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina
(Capacity: 10,000)
USL Group G: 3rd
Conference: 10th
USL Playoffs Did not qualify
Top goalscorerLeague: Fortune (6)
All: Fortune (6)
Highest home attendanceLeague/All: 3,515
(March 7 vs. Louisville)
Lowest home attendanceLeague/All: 432
(October 3 vs. Charlotte)
(six home games played without crowd because of COVID-19 pandemic)
Average home league attendance1,974
Biggest win NY 0–3 NC(September 30)
Biggest defeatNC 0–3 CHS (August 19)
  2019
2021  

The 2020 North Carolina FC season was the 14th season for North Carolina FC and its second in the USL Championship, the second-tier professional soccer league in the United States.

Contents

The season was suspended March 12 after the opening week because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] It restarted July 11 with a restructured format and schedule, with NCFC's first game scheduled for July 17. [2]

The team partnered with rapper J. Cole's Dreamville Festival for kit sponsorship for the season. [3]

Roster

As of 26 April 2021 [4]

No.PositionNationPlayer
7 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Pecka
10 MF Flag of Palestine.svg  PLE Nazmi Albadawi
11 FW Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  BIH Robert Kristo
15 DF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Malick Mbaye
-- MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Luis Arriaga
-- MF Flag of El Salvador.svg  SLV Nelson Blanco
-- MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Josh Coan
-- DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Max Flick
-- MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Malyk Hamilton
-- MF Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  SLE Jay Tee Kamara (on loan from Louisville City FC)
-- GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Damian Las (on loan from Fulham FC)
-- MF Flag of Curacao.svg  CUW Shermaine Martina
-- DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Nelson Martinez
-- GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jake McGuire
-- MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Selmir Miscic (on loan from Philadelphia Union)
  1. ^
    North Carolina FC Youth Academy Contract

Competitions

Source: [5]

Friendlies

February 8 North Carolina FC v Richmond Kickers Cary, NC
12:30 PM EST Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Result not published.
February 15 Charlotte Independence 1–1 North Carolina FC Matthews, NC
2:00 PM EST Soccerball shade.svg Report Miller Soccerball shade.svg7'Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews

USL Championship

Standings — Group G

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Charlotte Independence 168442422+2281.75Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2 Birmingham Legion FC 167452919+10251.56
3 North Carolina FC 1561817214191.27
4 Memphis 901 FC 1544724317161.07
Source: USL

Match results

All games broadcast on ESPN+ as part of the USL Championship's rights agreement with the platform. [6] Home games broadcast locally on WRAL-2.

March 71 North Carolina FC 0–1 Louisville City FC Cary, NC
2:30 PM EST Kristo Yellow card.svg 88'
Taylor Yellow card.svg 90+3'
Report Lancaster Soccerball shade.svg63'Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,515
Referee: Adam Kilpatrick
July 172 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–2 North Carolina FC St. Petersburg, FL
6:45 PM EDT Guenzatti Soccerball shade.svg7'
Fernandes Soccerball shade.svg22'
Mkosana Yellow card.svg 40'
Report Fortune Soccerball shade.svg56'
Kristo Soccerball shade.svg83'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 141
Referee: Gabriele Giusti
July 29 Charlotte Independence v North Carolina FC Matthews, NC
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Note: Postponed until August 26 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [7] [8]
August 13 North Carolina FC 1–0 Birmingham Legion FC Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Donovan Yellow card.svg 29'
Fortune Soccerball shade.svg51', Yellow card.svg 90+2'
Kristo Yellow card.svg 87'
Report Akinyode Red card.svg 33'
Brett Yellow card.svg 45'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Broadley
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
August 84 Memphis 901 FC 0–1 North Carolina FC Memphis, TN
5:00 PM EDT Paul Yellow card.svg 65' Report Ward Yellow card.svg 15', Soccerball shade.svg38'
Fortune Yellow card.svg 21'
Stadium: AutoZone Park
Attendance: 901
Referee: Matthew Thompson
August 155 North Carolina FC 0–2 Birmingham Legion FC Cary, NC
8:30 PM EDT Donovan Yellow card.svg 48' Report Servania Soccerball shade.svg18'
Brett Soccerball shade.svg21' (pen.)
A. Crognale Yellow card.svg 42'
Akinyode Yellow card.svg 46'
Van Oekel Yellow card.svg 59'
Lopez Yellow card.svg 60'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Matthew Franz
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
August 196 North Carolina FC 0–3 Charleston Battery Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Pecka Yellow card.svg 73'
Donovan Yellow card.svg 90'
Fortune Yellow card.svg 90+6'
Report Kelly-Rosales Yellow card.svg 29'
Piggott Soccerball shade.svg56'
Daley Soccerball shade.svg69'
Zarokostas Soccerball shade.svg81'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: John Griggs
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
August 267 Charlotte Independence 1–0 North Carolina FC Matthews, NC
7:00 PM EDT Ortiz Soccerball shade.svg59' Report Ward Yellow card.svg 42'
Pecka Yellow card.svg 68'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Broadley
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
August 29 North Carolina FC v Memphis 901 FC Cary, NC
TBA PM EDT Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Postponed as part of the protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake. [9] [10] Rescheduled for September 10. [11]
September 28 Birmingham Legion FC 1–2 North Carolina FC Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Kobayashi Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Kasim Soccerball shade.svg59'
Brett Soccerball shade cross.svg90'
Report Albadawi Soccerball shade.svg24'
Fortune Soccerball shade.svg62' (pen.)
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
September 59 Charlotte Independence 3–1 North Carolina FC Matthews, NC
7:00 PM EDT Kelly Soccerball shade.svg10', Soccerball shade.svg20', Yellow card.svg 43', Soccerball shade.svg79'
Lacroix Yellow card.svg 18'
Martínez Yellow card.svg 51'
Report Smith Yellow card.svg 35'
Taylor Yellow card.svg 60'
Fortune Soccerball shade.svg90+1'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
September 1010 North Carolina FC 2–3 Memphis 901 FC Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Pecka Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Fortune Yellow card.svg 64'
Kristo Soccerball shade.svg86'
Taylor Soccerball shade.svg90+1', Yellow card.svg 90+7'
Report Mentzingen Soccerball shade.svg30'
Baxter Yellow card.svg 36'
Paul Yellow card.svg 55'
Hundley Soccerball shade.svg75', Soccerball shade.svg90+8'
Jennings Yellow card.svg 89'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: John Matto
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
September 1311 North Carolina FC 3–2 Memphis 901 FC Cary, NC
6:00 PM EDT Barry Yellow card.svg 29', Soccerball shade.svg58'
Donovan Soccerball shade.svg55'
Ward Yellow card.svg 65'
Albadawi Soccerball shade.svg89'
Report Jennings Soccerball shade.svg24', Soccerball shade.svg35'
Carroll Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: John Griggs
Note: Originally scheduled for September 12. Rescheduled to accommodate for rescheduling of previous game. [11] Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic.
September 1912 North Carolina FC 0–1 Charlotte Independence Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Albadawi Yellow card.svg 45+1' Yellow-red card.svg 67'
Taylor Yellow card.svg 50'
Donovan Yellow card.svg 69'
Fortune Yellow card.svg 73'
Report Kelly Red card.svg 44'
Miller Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Martínez Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Maund Soccerball shade.svg51'
Lacroix Yellow card.svg 66'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Matthew Franz
September 23 Memphis 901 FC Canceled North Carolina FC Memphis, TN
7:00 PM CDT Stadium: AutoZone Park
Note: Postponed after a member of the Memphis 901 FC organization tested positive for COVID-19. [12] Game was not rescheduled after both teams were eliminated from playoff contention.
September 2613 Birmingham Legion FC 1–2 North Carolina FC Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Cromwell Yellow card.svg 23'
Servania Soccerball shade.svg67'
Williams Yellow card.svg 87'
Report Perez Soccerball shade.svg7', Yellow card.svg 37'
Fortune Soccerball shade.svg26' (pen.)
Kristo Yellow card.svg 90+6'
Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
September 3014 New York Red Bulls II 0–3 North Carolina FC Richmond, VA
5:00 PM EDT Cummins Yellow card.svg 44'
Hot Yellow card.svg 88'
Toure Yellow card.svg 90+3'
Report Fortune Soccerball shade.svg12' (pen.), Yellow card.svg 28'
Speas Soccerball shade.svg26'
Tolkin Soccerball shade.svg45+3' (o.g.)
Stadium: City Stadium
Referee: Matthew Franz
Note: Neutral site game scheduled after both teams had upcoming games against Loudoun United FC canceled because of COVID-19 outbreak. [13]
October 315 North Carolina FC 0–1 Charlotte Independence Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Report Haakenson Yellow card.svg 45+1'
Kelly Yellow card.svg 88'
Gebhard Yellow card.svg 90+1'
Sabella Soccerball shade.svg90+4', Yellow card.svg 90+5'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 432
Referee: John Griggs
Note: Rescheduled from September 30 to accommodate for newly scheduled match against New York Red Bulls II. [13]
October 4 Loudoun United FC Canceled North Carolina FC Leesburg, VA
11:00 AM EDT Stadium: Segra Field
Note: Match cancelled due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests in Loudoun United FC organization and a lack of rescheduling windows. [14]

U.S. Open Cup

As a USL Championship club, North Carolina FC was scheduled to enter the competition in the second round, which was to be played April 7–9. [15] Pairings for that round were announced on January 29. [16] The first three rounds of the tournament were postponed on March 13, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. [17] On August 17, the tournament was canceled. [18]

Squad statistics

Source: Match reports

Appearances and goals

No.PosNatPlayerTotal USL Championship Regular Season
AppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Flag of Greece.svg  GRE Alex Tambakis 140140
2 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Manny Perez 14111+31
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Caleb Duvernay 2020
4 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Alex Comsia 1109+20
5 DF Flag of New Zealand.svg  NZL Sam Brotherton 11010+10
7 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Pecka 14013+10
8 MF Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  TRI Dre Fortune 14611+36
9 MF Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Marios Lomis 1208+40
10 MF Flag of Palestine.svg  PLE Nazmi Albadawi 1228+42
11 FW Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  BIH Robert Kristo 1526+92
15 DF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Malick Mbaye 100+10
16 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Graham Smith 1407+70
17 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ben Speas 1418+61
20 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Conor Donovan 141141
21 FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Daniele Proch 1101+100
24 GK Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Paulo Pita 1010
27 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA D.J. Taylor 151151
30 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Akeem Ward 11110+11
31 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Steven Miller 1106+50
92 FW Flag of Guinea.svg  GUI Hadji Barry 15111+41

Goal scorers

PlacePositionNationNumberName USL Championship Regular Season Total
1MF Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg 8 Dre Fortune 66
2FW Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg 11 Robert Kristo 22
MF Flag of Palestine.svg 10 Nazmi Albadawi 22
4MF Flag of the United States.svg 2 Manny Perez 11
MF Flag of the United States.svg 17 Ben Speas 11
DF Flag of the United States.svg 20 Conor Donovan 11
DF Flag of the United States.svg 27 D. J. Taylor 11
DF Flag of the United States.svg 30 Akeem Ward 11
FW Flag of Guinea.svg 92 Hadji Barry 11
Own goals by opponent11
TOTALS1717

Disciplinary record

NumberNationPositionName USL Championship Regular Season Total
Yellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svg
8 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg MF Dre Fortune 6060
20 Flag of the United States.svg DF Conor Donovan 4040
27 Flag of the United States.svg DF D.J. Taylor 4040
7 Flag of Brazil.svg MF Pecka 3030
11 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg FW Robert Kristo 3030
30 Flag of the United States.svg DF Akeem Ward 3030
10 Flag of Palestine.svg MF Nazmi Albadawi 2121
2 Flag of the United States.svg MF Manny Perez 1010
16 Flag of the United States.svg MF Graham Smith 1010
92 Flag of Guinea.svg FW Hadji Barry 1010
TOTALS261261

References

  1. "USL Championship Temporarily Suspends Play". uslchampionship.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  2. "North Carolina FC Set to Return to Play with Schedule Announcement". North Carolina FC. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  3. "North Carolina Football Club Announces Dreamville Festival as NCFC Front-of-Jersey Partner". North Carolina FC. February 27, 2020.
  4. "North Carolina FC 2020 Roster". North Carolina FC . Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  5. "North Carolina FC Announces Preseason Schedule". North Carolina FC . January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  6. "USL Reaches New Rights Agreement with ESPN, ESPN+". USLSoccer.com. August 27, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  7. Birkedal, Morgan (July 24, 2020). "North Carolina FC Match Against Charlotte Independence Postponed Until August 26". NorthCarolinaFC.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  8. Scott, David (July 24, 2020). "Coronavirus concerns move Charlotte Independence vs. North Carolina FC match to August". The Charlotte Observer . Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  9. "Memphis 901 FC considering skipping Saturday's game vs. North Carolina FC". WREG.com. WREG. August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  10. "Saturday's NCFC home match with Memphis 901 postponed". WRALSportsFan.com. WRAL. August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "North Carolina FC Sets New Dates for Matches Against Memphis 901 FC". NorthCarolinaFC.com. September 2, 2020.
  12. "North Carolina FC Match Against Memphis 901 FC Postponed". NorthCarolinaFC.com. September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  13. 1 2 "NCFC to Play New York Red Bulls II on Wednesday, Match Against Charlotte Rescheduled for Saturday". NorthCarolinaFC.com. September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  14. "Remaining Loudoun United FC Games Cancelled". USLChampionship.com. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  15. "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  16. "2020 U.S. Open Cup Second Round Pairings and Host Scenarios" (Press release). U.S. Soccer. January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  17. 1 2 "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due To COVID-19 Outbreak" (Press release). U.S. Soccer. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  18. "2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Cancelled Due to COVID-19" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. August 17, 2020.