Carolina Core FC entered halftime of its debut 2024 US Open Cup match facing a 2-1 deficit, but CCFC wasn’t fazed in the slightest.
Hosting Northern Virginia FC in Greensboro, N.C., the Foxes fed off the raucous energy from its droves of supporters that filled UNCG Soccer Stadium to inspire a two-goal, second-half comeback.
CCFC’s 3-2 First Round win was earned by a heroic, 82nd minute goal from striker Joshua Rodriguez, who beat NoVa’s back line after midfielder David Polanco laced a silky smooth pass through the defense.
With a one-on-one with the keeper, Rodriguez didn’t think twice. He slipped the game-winner past and slotted it home, embracing his supporters in the stands with just minutes left on the clock to send his squad through to the next round.
Polanco, received the same kind of embrace from the Carolina Core fans when he scored the game-tying goal 32 minutes earlier. Just after an energizing halftime break, Polanco sparked his team and started the thrilling second half with a point blank shot propelled into the top left corner in the 50th minute after a rebound off the NoVa keeper.
“And the fans also having all this support is absolutely incredible,” said Polanco who played his college ball at NCAA Division 2 school Barry University (Fla.). “Finishing the first half, in the locker room, we were all fired up. We knew that we couldn’t let the fans down and it was just a team thing.”
Polanco and company’s relentless attack earned two second half goals for his team and kept the focus off of CCFC goalkeeper Alex Sutton for the final 45 minutes. An increased level of energy and focus after halftime resulted in a dominant second half for the foxes, one that was formed from their refusal to give up.
“I think the energy we bought in the second half really helped us, you know, turn that score back around, we’d been down before and came back,” said Carolina head coach Ray Lassiter, who despite a prolific pro career in MLS only scored one goal in 11 US Open Cup matches as a player. “And, you know, these guys are just resilient. They’re gonna keep on going. And, you know, we needed everybody involved in it to get it done.”
In addition to the final goal of the night, Carolina Core also nabbed the opener in the 18th minute after midfielder Drake Hadeed intercepted a pass and arced a shot from outside the box over the head of NoVa’s Bill Harris for a stunning goal.
However, while CCFC was firing shots left and right in the second half, and got out to a 1-0 lead early on, NoVa FC took over the contest with two goals within six minutes near the end of the first half.
Instead of CCFC doubling its lead, a goal from midfielder Facundo Canete was called back for offsides. Shortly after, NoVa took its shot and didn’t miss — the visitors were on the board thanks to a 34th minute score from forward Noah Holmes.
Minutes later, NoVa doubled down on Holmes’ score with a 40th minute strike from forward Alexander Abril that was assisted by defender Michael Medina. Once fed an expertly placed low cross from Medina, Abril smashed his score past Sutton for his team’s second goal in less than 10 minutes.
The visitors entered halftime with a 2-1 lead, but Polanco and his squad had other plans for the second half. Even despite some near misses from Carolina Core, the Foxes dominant attack in the latter 45 minutes prevailed, silencing NoVa’s attack and finding the net while doing so.
Ultimately, Polanco’s equalizer and Rodriguez’s go-ahead breakaway goal proved to be the difference for Carolina Core FC in the First Round of the 2024 US Open Cup’s first round for the Foxes.
