North Carolina FC overcomes first-half deficit, ends first game back in a draw
Late in the game and trailing by one goal, North Carolina FC defender D.J. Taylor lobbed a cross into the center of the box where it found forward Robert Kristo, who directed it toward the goal with a header and found the back of the net.
After being down 2-0 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies heading into the locker room, NCFC was tied 2-2 with seven minutes remaining in regulation.
The score remained a draw through the end of the game, which was NCFC’s first time back on the pitch since the United Soccer League shut down on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Originally scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET start time at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, a weather delay pushed kickoff back nearly two hours to 7:45 p.m.
The Rowdies were quick to put themselves ahead, scoring in the 6th and 22nd minutes behind goals by forward Sebastian Guenzatti and midfielder Leo Fernandes. Alex Tambarkis was in goal for NCFC.
Kristo had a chance to put NCFC on the board before the half with a header, but was called offside. It wasn’t until the 56th minute that midfielder Dre Fortune put the team on the board with NCFC’s first goal of 2020.
Unlike the NWSL and MLS, the USL Championship’s return to play plan is not taking place in a hub format, nor is it tournament style. Teams have been divided into eight regional groups, and will play 12 regular season games with members of their group as well as four against teams in similar geographical areas. The regular season will last 13 weeks, concluding Oct. 2. Games that took place before the league shutdown on March 12 still count toward team records, and the league will conduct a playoff following the conclusion of the regular season.
Also unlike other leagues, fans are permitted to attend USL matches with clubs operating their stadiums at 50% capacity.
NCFC played Louisville City FC on March 7 for its season opener and lost 1-0. It will next play Charlotte Independence on Wednesday, July 29 at 7 p.m. ET in Charlotte.