Match Information:
MLS Next Pro: Matchweek 16
Date: Friday June 28, 2024
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Wicks Family Field (Huntsville, Alabama)
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
SOCIAL TAGS:
Instagram: @carolinacorefc
X: @HuntCityFC
Instagram: @huntsvillecityfc
CCFC record: 2-7-3 (11 points - 14th in East)
HCFC record: 2-9-3 (9 points - 15th in East)
CCFC vs HCFC all-time: 0-1-0 (1 GF, 4 GA)
Carolina Core FC look to continue their winning ways as they travel to Wicks Family Field to take on Huntsville City FC. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m, with a live stream available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Fans can also follow @CarolinaCore FC on X and @carolinacorefc on Instagram for live updates throughout the match.
Back in the Win Column
CCFC took three points in their last game as they beat fellow independent MLSNP team Chattanooga FC 2-1 away from home. This win serves as CCFC’s second of the season, with their first win coming against Atlanta United II in May.
It didn’t take long for The Core to take the lead against Chattanooga FC, as midfielder Facundo Canete fired the Foxes in front in the fourth minute. A sweeping long ball by goalkeeper Alex Sutton found the feet of winger Carlos Mario Diaz. The Colombian winger took the ball down and exploded into the open space, where he would then play a ball into Canete’s feet, who turned onto his left foot and placed a shot into the bottom corner of the net.
The Foxes would keep piling on the pressure, with Jacob Evans winning a penalty in the 18th minute. Facundo Canete would step up to take the kick, but his effort was saved by Chattanooga goalkeeper Jean Antoine.
CCFC doubled their lead with a great team goal in the 28th minute. Jathan Juarez picked the ball up in space, and dribbled past two defenders before squaring the ball to a wide open Josuha Rodriguez. The Honduran forward tapped the ball into the net to score his second goal in two games, and give The Foxes a 2-0 lead.
Chattanooga FC would score in the 76th minute, with a goal from substitute Jalen James. The CFC winger cut inside before placing a shot past goalkeeper Alex Sutton at his near post. The late goal would not be enough as a highly contested match with 12 yellow cards and one red card would end with CCFC taking the three points on Lookout Mountain.
Last Matchup
Huntsville City (HCFC) would get the better of CCFC in their last match, with HCFC spoiling The Foxes first ever home match with a 4-1 win back in Matchweek 12.
After a quiet first half from both teams, goals started to fly in during the second half. CCFC would open up the scoring in the 50th minute, where a Jacob Evans corner found the head of defender Angel Aguas.
It wouldn’t take long for HCFC to respond, with midfielder Jony Bolaños finding forward Forster Aiago, who fired the ball into the top of the net. Huntsville would eventually take the lead in the 64th minute, with Bolaños cutting the ball back to forward Tyler Pasnik, who put HCFC into the lead.
Huntsville substitute Adem Sipić would score two more goals in extra time to end The Core’s chances of a comeback and give HCFC the win, 4-1.
Huntsville City FC
HCFC come into this game with a record of two wins, nine losses, and three draws, and currently sit 15th place in the Eastern Conference of MLSNP.
Huntsville is coming off a close 2-1 loss away at FC Cincinnati 2. The first goal of the match came for Cincinnati in the 27th minute. Forward Kenji Mboma Dem slipped a through ball past the Huntsville defense into the stride of forward Guilherme Santos, who passed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
Cincinnati would double their lead with 20 minutes left to go in the second half with a free kick from Kenji Mboma Dem, who curled the ball over the Huntsville wall and into the top right corner.
Huntsville would get a goal back with a penalty kick from forward Forster Ajago, but it was not enough for HCFC to make the comeback.
HCFC Key Players
Forward Forster Ajago leads the line for Huntsville, having bagged six goals on the season in just eight games played. The Ghanaian striker’s goal total is tied for fourth most in the league, in addition to recording 26 total shots on the season.
Midfielder Jony Bolaños has played every game for Huntsville so far this season and has been a key to their success. Bolaños has totaled the most key passes in the league, with 34 on the season. The former High Point University midfielder has four goals as well as leading the team with five assists, tied for third most in MLSNP.
Adem Sipić has been a bright spot for HCFC this season. The 18-year-old has three goals on the season, including scoring a brace against CCFC. Sipić has mostly featured for Huntsville as a substitute, coming off the bench five times this season.
