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Tobacco Road FC Falls to North Carolina FC U-23 3-1

DURHAM, NC- Mustapha Wadda’s first half goal was not enough for the hosts as Tobacco Road FC falls to North Carolina FC by a margin of 3-1 in the third installment of Triangle Derby on Wednesday night at Durham County Memorial Stadium. 

WHAT HAPPENED:

The match kicked off at 7:09 p.m. Tobacco Road resorted back to the 3-5-2 formation that they began the season with. 

Both teams appeared anxious early on as errant passes were going out of bounds and both teams lacked quality movement up the pitch. About ten minutes in, both teams found their footing.

Tobacco Road FC controlled the play early on but didn’t create many shots. Two early corners found the head of Hassan Pinto Jr. but the NCFC U-23 keeper William Palmquist made a great save to keep the match scoreless. 

In the 25th minute Alex Comsia put a ball over the top for Wadda to outpace the NCFC U-23 defense and beat the keeper to put the hosts up 1-0. Tobacco Road kept their foot on the gas and continued to control the game. 

TRFC goalkeeper Ryan Cretens made two vital saves and controlled his box well in the first half to keep the visitors off the board. 

In the second half Tobacco Road kept their foot on the gas. In the first 15 minutes of the half Tobacco Road created four shots and three corners. A Wadda header in the 49th minute was the closest of the half as it skipped by the post. 

NCFC U-23 found an equalizer in the 68th minute as a quick through ball found a sliding Tressor Mbuyu who finished with composure and slipped the ball into the back post. 

Jelani Pieters came on and made an immediate impact, dribbling through the Tobacco Road defense and scoring the winner for the visitors in the 83rd minute. 

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts in the 90th minute when TRFC substitute Joseph Buete received a yellow card for fouling an NCFC U-23 forward that was in on goal. The visitors scored an insurance goal off the following free kick. 

The match was called with the visitors coming away with the win, 3-1. 

 

HEAD COACH CEDRIC BURKE:

“First and foremost, congratulations to NCFC for winning two of the three matches against us this year. I thought we had the better run of play in the first half, really controlled the pace of the game and flow of the game. They made some very smart second half substitutions. They brought some really explosive and seasoned guys off the bench that changed the game. Quite frankly, we didn’t answer. We didn’t have it. They got a deserved result. Moving forward, I think we understand what we need to do. We still have six games left, we still control our own destiny.”

“It’s obviously a blow when Javier (Alcarria), a seasoned veteran that’s been as steady as they come for us this entire season, abruptly left to pursue a really good opportunity for him. First and foremost, we support him. We appreciate everything he did for the club and wish him the best. We hope to keep in touch, keep him in our system.”

POST-MATCH NOTES:

  • Tobacco Road falls to 3-5 while North Carolina FC U-23 improves to 5-2-3.
  • Mustapha Wadda’s goal made five in seven matches on the season.
  • Alex Comsia recorded his first assist of the year. 
  • North Carolina FC U-23 takes the lead in the Triangle Derby with this win, making the season series 2-1 in its favor. 
  • Tobacco Road stays at fourth in the South Atlantic Division in the PDL with nine points, sitting behind Charlotte Eagles (10 points), Myrtle Beach Mutiny (17 points) and NCFC U-23 (18 points).

UP NEXT:

Tobacco Road FC travels to Charlotte to face the Charlotte Eagles next Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Matthews Sportsplex. Be on the lookout for the preview to follow the match. Follow Tobacco Road FC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to follow along with Los Toros season.