2020 North Carolina FC season

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North Carolina FC
2020 season
OwnerStephen Malik
Head coachDave Sarachan
StadiumSahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina
(Capacity: 10,000)
USLGroup G: 3rd
Conference: 10th
USL PlayoffsDid 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 winNY 0–3 NC (September 30)
Biggest defeatNC 0–3 CHS (August 19)
Away colours
← 2019
 →

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

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 April 26, 2021[4]
No. Position Player Nation
7 MF Pecka  Brazil
10 MF Nazmi Albadawi  Palestine
11 FW Robert Kristo  Bosnia and Herzegovina
15 DF Malick Mbaye  Senegal
-- MF Luis Arriaga  United States
-- MF Nelson Blanco  El Salvador
-- MF Josh Coan  United States
-- DF Max Flick  United States
-- MF Malyk Hamilton  Canada
-- MF Jay Tee Kamara (on loan from Louisville City FC)  Sierra Leone
-- GK Damian Las (on loan from Fulham FC)  United States
-- MF Shermaine Martina  Curaçao
-- DF Nelson Martinez  United States
-- GK Jake McGuire  United States
-- MF Selmir Miscic (on loan from Philadelphia Union)  United States
-- MF Peter Pearson  United States
  1. ^
    North Carolina FC Youth Academy Contract
    2.

Competitions[]

Source:[5]

Friendlies[]

8 February North Carolina FC v Richmond Kickers Cary, NC
12:30 PM EST Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Result not published.
15 February Charlotte Independence 1–1 North Carolina FC Matthews, NC
2:00 PM EST Report Miller 7' Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
22 February North Carolina FC v Loudoun United FC Cary, NC
1:00 PM EST Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Canceled
29 February North Carolina FC 1–2 Greenville Triumph SC Cary, NC
3:00 PM EST Albadawi Report Pilato
Morrell 		Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park

USL Championship[]

Main article: 2020 USL Championship season

Standings — Group G[]

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Charlotte Independence 16 8 4 4 24 22 +2 28 1.75 Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2 Birmingham Legion FC 16 7 4 5 29 19 +10 25 1.56
3 North Carolina FC 15 6 1 8 17 21 −4 19 1.27
4 Memphis 901 FC 15 4 4 7 24 31 −7 16 1.07
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.

7 March 1 North Carolina FC 0–1 Louisville City FC Cary, NC
2:30 PM EST Kristo Yellow card 88'
Taylor Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Lancaster 63' Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,515
Referee: Adam Kilpatrick
17 July 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–2 North Carolina FC St. Petersburg, FL
6:45 PM EDT Guenzatti 7'
Fernandes 22'
Mkosana Yellow card 40'		 Report Fortune 56'
Kristo 83'		 Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 141
Referee: Gabriele Giusti
29 July 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]
1 August 3 North Carolina FC 1–0 Birmingham Legion FC Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Donovan Yellow card 29'
Fortune 51', Yellow card 90+2'
Kristo Yellow card 87'		 Report Akinyode Red card 33'
Brett Yellow card 45'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Broadley
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
8 August 4 Memphis 901 FC 0–1 North Carolina FC Memphis, TN
5:00 PM EDT Paul Yellow card 65' Report Ward Yellow card 15', 38'
Fortune Yellow card 21'		 Stadium: AutoZone Park
Attendance: 901
Referee: Matthew Thompson
15 August 5 North Carolina FC 0–2 Birmingham Legion FC Cary, NC
8:30 PM EDT Donovan Yellow card 48' Report Servania 18'
Brett 21' (pen.)
A. Crognale Yellow card 42'
Akinyode Yellow card 46'
Van Oekel Yellow card 59'
Lopez Yellow card 60'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Matthew Franz
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
19 August 6 North Carolina FC 0–3 Charleston Battery Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Pecka Yellow card 73'
Donovan Yellow card 90'
Fortune Yellow card 90+6'		 Report Kelly-Rosales Yellow card 29'
Piggott 56'
Daley 69'
Zarokostas 81'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: John Griggs
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
26 August 7 Charlotte Independence 1–0 North Carolina FC Matthews, NC
7:00 PM EDT Ortiz 59' Report Ward Yellow card 42'
Pecka Yellow card 68'		 Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Broadley
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
29 August 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]
2 September 8 Birmingham Legion FC 1–2 North Carolina FC Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Kobayashi Yellow card 45+1'
Kasim 59'
Brett soccer ball with red X 90'		 Report Albadawi 24'
Fortune 62' (pen.)		 Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
5 September 9 Charlotte Independence 3–1 North Carolina FC Matthews, NC
7:00 PM EDT Kelly 10', 20', Yellow card 43', 79'
Lacroix Yellow card 18'
Martínez Yellow card 51'		 Report Smith Yellow card 35'
Taylor Yellow card 60'
Fortune 90+1'		 Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
10 September 10 North Carolina FC 2–3 Memphis 901 FC Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Pecka Yellow card 45+1'
Fortune Yellow card 64'
Kristo 86'
Taylor 90+1', Yellow card 90+7'		 Report Mentzingen 30'
Baxter Yellow card 36'
Paul Yellow card 55'
Hundley 75', 90+8'
Jennings Yellow card 89'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: John Matto
Note: Played in empty stadium because of COVID-19 pandemic
13 September 11 North Carolina FC 3–2 Memphis 901 FC Cary, NC
6:00 PM EDT Barry Yellow card 29', 58'
Donovan 55'
Ward Yellow card 65'
Albadawi 89'		 Report Jennings 24', 35'
Carroll Yellow card 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.
19 September 12 North Carolina FC 0–1 Charlotte Independence Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Albadawi Yellow card 45+1' Yellow-red card 67'
Taylor Yellow card 50'
Donovan Yellow card 69'
Fortune Yellow card 73'		 Report Kelly Red card 44'
Miller Yellow card 45+1'
Martínez Yellow card 45+1'
Maund 51'
Lacroix Yellow card 66'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Matthew Franz
23 September 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.
26 September 13 Birmingham Legion FC 1–2 North Carolina FC Birmingham, AL
7:00 PM CDT Cromwell Yellow card 23'
Servania 67'
Williams Yellow card 87'		 Report Perez 7', Yellow card 37'
Fortune 26' (pen.)
Kristo Yellow card 90+6'		 Stadium: BBVA Field
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
30 September 14 New York Red Bulls II 0–3 North Carolina FC Richmond, VA
5:00 PM EDT Cummins Yellow card 44'
Hot Yellow card 88'
Toure Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Fortune 12' (pen.), Yellow card 28'
Speas 26'
Tolkin 45+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]
3 October 15 North Carolina FC 0–1 Charlotte Independence Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Report Haakenson Yellow card 45+1'
Kelly Yellow card 88'
Gebhard Yellow card 90+1'
Sabella 90+4', Yellow card 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]
4 October 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[]

Main article: 2020 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]

7 April 2nd Round North Carolina FC North Carolina v North Carolina North Carolina Fusion U23 or
South Carolina SC United Bantams 		Cary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Canceled because of COVID-19 pandemic[17]

Squad statistics[]

Source: Match reports

Appearances and goals[]

No. Pos Nat Player Total USL Championship Regular Season
Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Greece GRE Alex Tambakis 14 0 14 0
2 MF United States USA Manny Perez 14 1 11+3 1
3 DF United States USA Caleb Duvernay 2 0 2 0
4 DF Canada CAN Alex Comsia 11 0 9+2 0
5 DF New Zealand NZL Sam Brotherton 11 0 10+1 0
7 MF Brazil BRA Pecka 14 0 13+1 0
8 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Dre Fortune 14 6 11+3 6
9 MF Netherlands NED Marios Lomis 12 0 8+4 0
10 MF State of Palestine PLE Nazmi Albadawi 12 2 8+4 2
11 FW Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Robert Kristo 15 2 6+9 2
15 DF Senegal SEN Malick Mbaye 1 0 0+1 0
16 MF United States USA Graham Smith 14 0 7+7 0
17 MF United States USA Ben Speas 14 1 8+6 1
20 DF United States USA Conor Donovan 14 1 14 1
21 FW Italy ITA Daniele Proch 11 0 1+10 0
24 GK Brazil BRA Paulo Pita 1 0 1 0
27 DF United States USA D.J. Taylor 15 1 15 1
30 DF United States USA Akeem Ward 11 1 10+1 1
31 MF United States USA Steven Miller 11 0 6+5 0
92 FW Guinea GUI Hadji Barry 15 1 11+4 1

Goal scorers[]

Place Position Nation Number Name USL Championship Regular Season Total
1 MF Trinidad and Tobago 8 Dre Fortune 6 6
2 FW Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 Robert Kristo 2 2
MF State of Palestine 10 Nazmi Albadawi 2 2
4 MF United States 2 Manny Perez 1 1
MF United States 17 Ben Speas 1 1
DF United States 20 Conor Donovan 1 1
DF United States 27 D. J. Taylor 1 1
DF United States 30 Akeem Ward 1 1
FW Guinea 92 Hadji Barry 1 1
Own goals by opponent 1 1
TOTALS 17 17

Disciplinary record[]

Number Nation Position Name USL Championship Regular Season Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
8 Trinidad and Tobago MF Dre Fortune 6 0 6 0
20 United States DF Conor Donovan 4 0 4 0
27 United States DF D.J. Taylor 4 0 4 0
7 Brazil MF Pecka 3 0 3 0
11 Bosnia and Herzegovina FW Robert Kristo 3 0 3 0
30 United States DF Akeem Ward 3 0 3 0
10 State of Palestine MF Nazmi Albadawi 2 1 2 1
2 United States MF Manny Perez 1 0 1 0
16 United States MF Graham Smith 1 0 1 0
92 Guinea FW Hadji Barry 1 0 1 0
TOTALS 26 1 26 1

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. 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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.
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