NCFC Visits In-State Rival Charlotte Independence on Saturday
September 23, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – North Carolina FC News Release
CARY, NC – North Carolina FC wraps up a three-match road swing when they visit the Charlotte Independence on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7:00 p.m. ET at American Legion Memorial Stadium. North Carolina FC finds their playoff hopes on the brink with five matches remaining in the regular season and will look to capture critical points from their in-state rival. North Carolina FC won the first meeting of the season on their home field and looks to capture the season series in the first of two trips to the Queen City to wrap up the year.
Last Time Out
North Carolina FC dropped a heartbreaker at FC Tucson, 1-0, Tuesday night on a controversial penalty awarded to the home side near the hour-mark. The match start was delayed more than two hours due to lightning in the desert. When kickoff finally came NCFC dictated much of the run of play, holding an edge in both shots and shots on goal while possession was nearly even. The six-day road trip to Madison and Tucson resulted in three of a possible six points after the thrilling 2-1 win over Forward Madison last Saturday.
Players to Watch
North Carolina FC – #7 Luis Arriaga
Luis Arriaga has been as steady as they come for John Bradford in the North Carolina FC lineup, logging over 2,000 minutes and joining Garrett McLaughlin as the only two players to see the field in every match this season. He’s been a dynamic threat in the midfield to help North Carolina FC build scoring opportunities, creating a team-high 30 chances this season. He’s also scored twice on the year and been credited with a pair of assists. Look for his transitional play and vision to be a key for NCFC to attack a Charlotte defense that has conceded the second-most goals in USL1 this season.
Forward Madison FC – #90 Khori Bennett
Khori Bennett has shown a knack for scoring in his first fully professional season, netting 11 goals to sit fourth in the USL1 Golden Boot race headed into the home stretch. The Jamaican striker also has three assists on the year and has been a big reason the Independence rank third in USL1 with 40 team goals. He’s taken 43 shots and created 11 chances and should be a major focal point of the NCFC back line throughout the match.
Up Next: North Carolina FC returns home to WakeMed Soccer Park for the first time in over a month as they host Central Valley Fuego FC on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET. This match was originally scheduled for Sept. 9 but was postponed due to travel issues with Fuego. Themes include Star Wars Night, $2 Natural Lights and a special College Night $5 ticket offer. All other tickets can be purchased here. Tickets purchased for the Sept. 9 date have been automatically updated for this match.
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