Match Day Information
Location: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC
Reported attendance: 1,119
Weather: rainy, 45F
Match Notes – North Carolina FC
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Absent from the roster: Luke Croll, Max Flick, Cole Frame, Marvin Mariche, and Pecka. NCFC did not release any further details.
Coach John Bradford once again switched out Oalex Anderson and Garrett McLaughlin, this week starting the former and subbing in the latter in the 59th minute. Last week McLaughlin started and Anderson subbed in the 60th minute. Anderson scored NCFC’s lone goal in the 32nd minute.
Louis Perez made his first start as a right-wing/midfielder in place of Shak Adams. Due to visa delays, the Frenchman signed with the club in the off-season, joining after week one. He previously appeared off the bench in the second match.
Nelson Flores Blanco returned to the starting 11 as a left-back after a week in which he did not appear after completing international duties for the El Salvador national team.
Defender David Garcia made his regular season debut at center back. The 22-year-old joined the club from Florida International University just before the season, and made his team debut in last week’s US Open Cup match against Loudoun United.
Notable on the bench: besides the early second half substitution of McGlaughlin for Anderson, Christian Lue Young and Raheem Somersall started on the bench and subbed in for Jaden Servania and Louis Perez respectively late in the match. Gustavo Fernandes, Shak Adams and Preston Popp did not appear.
Oalex Anderson’s 32nd-minute goal came on a Rafa Metzingen drive, dropped to Jaden Servania who had his shot deflected by Charlotte defender Nick Spielman, causing goalkeeper Austin Pack to stumble. Anderson tapped the ball into the empty net with his left foot.
Yellow cards: Garcia (10′), Mentzingen (74′), Benton (83′), Benton (90′)
Red card: Benton (90′)
NCFC Substitutions
IN: FW Garrett McLaughlin 59′
OUT: FW Oalex Anderson
IN: MF Raheem Somersall 90+3′
OUT: FW/MF Louis Perez
IN: DF Christian Lue Young 90+6′
OUT: MF Jaden Servania
Match Notes – Charlotte Independence
Formation: 4-4-2
Absent from the roster: Carson Talboys (injury)
Charlotte found a setup that worked against Richmond in week three and went with it again in week four, making no changes to the starting 11 or formation.
Notable on the bench: Hector Acosta returned to the roster but did not appear. Khori Bennett subbed for Miguel Ibarra in the 68th minute.
Defender Fabrice Ngah made his club and league debut in the 88th minute, replacing Gabriel Obertan. The Cameroonian international joined Charlotte in late March.
Forward Dane Kelly deflected a Gabriel Obertan shot into the net in the 61st minute. This was the first goal in USL League One for the all-time leading goal scorer in the USL Championship.
Yellow cards: Dunwell (7′), Kelly (30′), Ciss (45+2′), Pack (90+4)
Charlotte Independence Substitutions
IN: MF Bachir Ndiaye 45′
OUT: MF Brad Dunwell
IN: MF Miguel Ibarra 68′
OUT: FW Khori Bennett
IN: MF Avionne Flanagan 68′
OUT: FW Tresor Mbuyu
IN: MF Luis Alvarez 74′
OUT: MF Bachir Ndiaye
IN: DF Fabrice Ngah 88′
OUT: FW Gabriel Obertan