Carolina falls to Cruz Azul but gains fans

CARY -- So much for a home-field advantage.

That vanished for the Carolina RailHawks the moment they opened the gates at SAS Soccer Park on Wednesday night, when a season-high 8,505 fans filed in, the vast majority of them Hispanics chanting "Cruz Azul! Cruz Azul!" while Mexican flags fluttered throughout the stands.

With that vociferous backing and six players with World Cup experience, the Mexican powerhouse still had to work for the 2-0 win, scoring on two deflected goals by Cesar Villaluz and Adrian Cortes.

"It's tough to be on your home field and not be the home team,'' RailHawks coach Scott Schweitzer said. "[But] it was a great atmosphere. Our fans are good fans, too."

Although losing and failing to score, the RailHawks certainly deserve a taco for their gutsy performance in an underdog role.

"We carried the game once again for 90 minutes,'' said Schweitzer, whose team fired 12 shots and limited Cruz Azul to four, just one in the first half.

But that one attempt sailed into the net off the foot of flashy maneuvering midfielder Villaluz, who dribbled to the center and scored on a carom from just outside the box.

In soccer, sometimes Cesar rules.

Cortes produced another shining Mexican moment in the 85th minute when he left-footed a bouncer near the arc that ricocheted off a body and into the net.

"We were the better team, ... [but] they did what they needed to do to win the game,'' said Schweitzer, who saw his RailHawks -- minus four regulars --come close on several shots.

Anthony Maher found the net in the first half, but a foul on McColm Cephas nullified the goal. In the waning moments, Kevin Jeffrey unleashed a header that soared too high.

Throughout the hot night (85 degrees), the Cruz Azul loyalists kept the stadium rocking with chants, cheers and a late-game run around the stands by a Mexican-flag bearer.

This night was about athleticism and atmosphere, lots of passionate atmosphere. And though Carolina lost the game, the RailHawks hoped they won some Hispanic fans.

"I'm proud of the way we played," RailHawks president and general manager Chris Economides said. "We want to embrace the Hispanic community. What better way than to have a fabled team in Mexico history here."

Victor Campos, who lives in Clayton, came to see Cruz Azul but said he'll "definitely" be back to see the RailHawks.

Julio Martinez, who lives in Raleigh, also plans to return to SAS Soccer Park, saying: "I like it. They [the RailHawks] are a very good team."

Both teams competed with championship fervor for more than 90 minutes. Then Cruz Azul's players hoisted the Copa Tecate Cup amid raucous fanfare, while the RailHawks huddled on the field, like visitors in their own home.