Game on: North Carolina FC prepares for Saturday’s home match with Memphis 901 FC

While other sports leagues and individual teams have paused play to make a statement on the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, the USL Champions will play this weekend. North Carolina FC hosts Memphis 901 FC on Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park.

North Carolina traveled to Charlotte Wednesday, losing 0-1 against the Charlotte Independence. Rey Ortiz netted the Independence’s goal in the 59th minute.

The match was originally slated for July 29, but was rescheduled because Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, which operates the Sportsplex at Matthews where the Independence plays, wasn’t comfortable hosting a game due to COVID-19, according to previous reporting by the Charlotte Observer.

The USL Champions Independent Disciplinary Panel ruled Friday morning that North Carolina’s Akeem Ward would be suspended for two games following the contest at Charlotte. Ward was given a yellow card in the 42nd minute after he seemingly kicked Clay Dimick in the neck area.

The 24-year-old has been a semi-regular starter for NCFC on defense. He was signed by the team in February.

Ward apologized for the incident in a tweet Thursday, calling it “uncharacteristic” and saying he “lashed out” without intending to hit Dimick.

Saturday’s match against Memphis will be the second meeting between the two teams this season. NCFC traveled to AutoZone Park — where it played in front of a crowd of 901 people — on Aug. 8. North Carolina won 1-0 behind a goal by Ward.

North Carolina (2-4-1) has lost its last three games, two of which took place at WakeMed. The team’s only other win was a 1-0 victory at home against the Birmingham Legion FC. Dre Fortune scored the lone goal in that game.

Memphis’ last game was on the road against the Legion. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. Rafael Mentzingen and Keanu Marsh-Brown notched the goals for Memphis.

Saturday’s match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast on ESPN+.