Match Information:
MLS Next Pro: Matchweek 14
Date: Saturday, June 15, 2024
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Point (High Point, North Carolina)
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
SOCIAL TAGS:
Instagram: @carolinacorefc
Instagram: @fccincinnati2
Carolina Core FC record: 1-6-3 (8 points - 15th in East)
FC Cincinnati 2 record: 7-4-1 (22 points - 3th in East)
Soccer is back at Truist Point, where Carolina Core FC hosts their second ever home game against FC Cincinnati 2. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m, with a live stream available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Fans can also follow @CarolinaCore FC on X and @carolinacorefc on Instagram for live updates throughout the match.
Back At The Den
Carolina Core FC is back at home after playing their first ever home game two weeks ago to a sellout crowd against Huntsville City FC. The team returns home to play Eastern Conference foe FC Cincinnati 2 at Truist Point on June 15th. The Foxes return home, on the back of a road trip, where they drew with Orlando City B (OCB), 2-2, earning a tough point on the road.
Point Gained in the Sunshine State
The Core earned one point away at Orlando last Saturday in a game filled with late drama. Two first half goals from Facundo Canete (7’) and Papa Ndoye (16’) were equaled by Orlando as they scored two goals late in the 2nd half to send it to a penalty kick shootout, where they would eventually come out on top 6-5.
First Half Triumph from the Foxes
The first 20 minutes could not have gone better for CCFC. Forward Josuha Rodriguez intercepted a back pass made by OCB’s Thomas Williams, and was then fouled by Orlando goalkeeper Javier Otero in the box. CCFC midfielder Facundo Canete was calm from the spot as he sent the keeper the wrong way, giving The Core an early lead in the seventh minute of the match.
In the 16th minute, a great Core move would result in another goal as midfielder Facundo Canete made a darting run into the box. Canete received the ball, dribbled past an Orlando defender, and fizzed a ball across the six yard box where forward Papa Ndoye arrived to score and give CCFC a 2-0 lead. This goal served as Ndoye’s first of the season in MLS NEXT Pro.
Orlando’s 2nd Half Comeback
It would take until the 70th minute for Orlando City B to get on the board, when a shot from midfielder Colin Guske hit CCFC captain Jacob Evans on the hand and awarded the team a penalty. Defender Alex Freeman would convert from the spot to bring the score to 2-1.
The comeback would be completed in the 86th minute, as a shot from defender Alex Freeman would force a save from Core goalie Alex Sutton. Orlando midfielder Jorge Almaguer acted quickly, pouncing on a loose ball and firing it into the net to give Orlando City B the equalizer.
OCB goalkeeper Javier Otero would prove to be the hero during the penalty kick shootout, where he saved three penalties to win the shootout for Orlando, 6-5, earning them the extra point.
FC Cincinnati 2
FC Cincinnati 2 (FCC2) currently sit 3rd in the Eastern Conference with 22 points with 7 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.
FCC2 are coming off a big win in Matchday 13 against Philadelphia Union 2, where they took down the Eastern Conference leaders 2-0.
The game looked to be a stalemate, until late in the second half when FC Cincinnati 2 scored the first goal of the match. Midfielder Moises Tablante receives the ball and takes on his man before crossing the ball across the box to striker Kenji Mboma Dem, who slipped it past the Union 2 goalkeeper to give him his first goal of the season.
Mboma Dem would find his second goal of the night near the end of the game. Involved with the first goal, Tablante would continue to apply pressure to the Union 2 defense, before blocking a clearance leading to him winning the ball. Tablante played the ball across the box to Mboma Dem, who passed it into the bottom left corner to finish off the game for FCC2.
Cincinnati’s Stellar Month of May
The month of May was a good one for FC Cincinnati 2, as they won three of their four matches in the month. During this stretch, the team went on a five game winning streak, their longest ever streak.
Head Coach Tyrone Marshall was awarded MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Month for the month of May, while forward Stefan Chirila won MLS Next Pro Rising Star of the Month. The 17-year-old Chirila won the U17 MLS NEXT Most Valuable Player this year, and has been lighting it up in MLS NEXT Pro during the month of May. The Homegrown signing has scored four goals and had one assist in just four appearances, including scoring a brace against New York Red Bulls 2.
Cincinnati’s Offensive Weapons
After an impressive win against Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union 2, FCC2 has been on a hot streak, winning six of their last seven games in the league.
Stefan Chirila has been a key piece to the winning formula of this Cincinnati team. Chirila is the team’s top goalscorer with four on the season, along with two assists in his debut MLS NEXT Pro season, since being promoted from the FC Cincinnati U17’s.
Another key player that has been pivotal to the club’s success is forward Ben Stitz. The Maryland native has tallied three goals on the season, to go along with five assists, which is tied for third most in the league this season.
Peter Mangione has also been an important part of FCC2’s success. The midfielder has the second most key passes in the league with 30, and the second most minutes played on the team with 1063 on the season.
