Carolina Core FC drew 1-1 in regulation before defeating Huntsville City FC 6-5 in penalty kick shootout
Huntsville, Alabama (June 28, 2024) – Carolina Core FC drew Huntsville City FC 1-1 before winning the penalty kick shootout 6-5 in Matchweek 16 of the MLS NEXT Pro Season.
Goal-Scoring Plays
HNT – Jordan Knight, 78th minute: Adem Sipic played a ball to Jordan Knight who hit the ball into the net from close range.
CCFC – Josuha Rodriguez, 85th minute: A deflected shot from midfielder Facundo Canete fell to forward Josuha Rodriguez who finished the ball underneath the Huntsville goalkeeper.
Postgame Notes
- CCFC earns two points on the road
- Josuha Rodriguez scores in second consecutive game
- Super Sutton saves extra point
- CCFC vs. HNT | MLSNP Box Score
Carolina Core FC Earns Two Points on the Road
Carolina Core FC scored late to take the match into a penalty kick shootout, which they won 6-5. After falling behind late, forward Josuha Rodriguez scored in the 85th minute to bring the game level at the death. Following regulation, the teams went into a penalty kick shootout, highlighted by three saves made by goalkeeper Alex Sutton. The winning kick was scored by defender Jathan Juarez, who was awarded Man of the Match.
Josuha Rodriguez Scores for Second Consecutive Game
Forward Josuha Rodriguez scored for the second game in a row in Friday night’s match against Huntsville City FC, pulling back an 85th-minute equalizer to make the score 1-1. A sweeping team move would end in a goal as midfielder Facundo Canete struck the ball from outside the box, and his deflected effort would fall to Rodriguez’s feet, who slid the ball past the goalkeeper into the net to score his third goal of the season. Rodriguez registered three shots during the match with 91% pass completion. The native Honduran also scored his penalty in the shootout.
Super Sutton Saves Extra Point
Goalkeeper Alex Sutton would be the hero yet again for Carolina Core FC, as he saved three penalties in this match's penalty kick shootout to earn an extra point. Sutton would save the first kick of the shootout from HCFC defender Tomas Ritondale and then step up to take a penalty of his own, which he placed into the right corner of the net. Sutton would go on to save penalties from Will Perkins and Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez to close out the shootout.
Lineups
Carolina Core FC — Alex Sutton; Christian Diaz, Ibrahim Covi (Yekeson Subah – 83’), Kai Thomas; Carlos Mario Diaz, Alenga Charles, Santiago Cambindo, Jathan Juarez; Jacob Evans (Papa Ndoye – 83’), Facundo Canete; Josuha Rodriguez.
Substitutes not used — Robert Bailey, Luis Lugo, Aryeh Miller, Jesus Orejuela, Jeremiah White IV.
Huntsville City FC — Ben Martino; Will Perkins, Faiz Opande, Nick Depuy (Joel Sangwa – 59’), Joey Skinner; Jonathan Bolaños (Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez – 90’), Isaiah Jones, Ethan O’Brien, Axel Picazo (Jordan Knight – 46’); Adem Sipić, Woobens Pacius (Oliver Wright – 59’).
Substitutes not used — Simon Jillson, Tomas Ritondale.
Next Game
Carolina Core FC hosts Crown Legacy FC on Saturday, July 13th at Trust Point Stadium. The match kicks off at 7:00 PM ET with a live stream available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Tickets are available for purchase here: https://bit.ly/3z9zoH3
2024 MLS NEXT Pro
Carolina Core FC vs Huntsville City FC
Friday, June 28, 2024 – Wicks Family Field (Huntsville, Alabama)
Carolina Core FC record: 2-7-4 (13 points – 14th in East)
Huntsville City FC record: 2-9-4 (10 points – 15th in East)
Scoring Summary:
HNT: Jordan Knight (Adem Sipić) – 78’
CCFC: Josuha Rodriguez – 85’
Misconduct Summary:
HNT: Will Perkins (caution) – 45’
CCFC: Ibrahim Kovi (caution) – 60’
HNT: Isaiah Jones (caution) – 63’
HNT: Oliver Wright (caution) – 83’
CCFC: Jathan Juarez (caution) – 90+2’
HNT: Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez (caution) – 90+6’
Referee: Emmy Nonso-Anyakwo
Assistant Referees: Jackson Krauser, Laura Chambers Waliski
Fourth Official: Andrew Musashe
Weather: Sunny, 92 degrees
Attendance: 4,211
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
