The first official meeting between MLS’ Charlotte FC and USL Championship side North Carolina FC provided plenty of drama for North Carolinian fans of either team, but everyone needed to wait until extra time for the scoreline to move.
A goal by Charlotte FC’s Liel Abada in the 97th minute was equalized in the 99th by Rafa Mentzingen of NCFC, leading towards more of stalemate before Charlotte FC score three more by the final whistle, with goals by Patrick Agyemang in the 104th, Nikola Petkovic in the 119th, and Kerwin Vargas ending the game with a goal at 120’+3 for a 4-1 Charlotte win in Round 4 of the 2025 US Open Cup on Tuesday night.
The five total goals in extra is just one shy of the Modern Era record of six, which was set back in the Third Round of the 2012 US Open Cup. That year, the Harrisburg City Islanders and New England Revolution scored three extra time goals each and went to penalty kicks where Harrisburg prevailed 4-3.
Chances for both teams began early, with Charlotte FC’s duo of Tyger Smalls and Idan Toklomati almost scoring in the third and North Carolina FC’s corner in the seventh that led to a skillful Conor Donovan header. Tempers flared early, leading to several on-field confrontations from both sides. The chances continued, but no goals were to be found during the first half. Most notable was a run by NCFC’s Oalex Anderson in the 22nd that was deemed offside, and another chance by Idan Toklomati of CLTFC in the 33rd, going just wide of the goal.
Coming into the second half, both teams knew they had missed earlier chances and were seeking to end this game in regulation. Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith even admits that things needed to change coming out of the locker room.
“I just felt the first half was a little bit too slow,” Smith said. “I thought the tempo of the game wasn’t good enough. I thought we were a lot slicker in the second half.”
Both teams were giving it their all, with North Carolina FC dominating both possession and chances created, but nothing was able to come through. With 15 minutes left in regulation, NCFC brought in fresh legs, giving the chance for Oalex Anderson to create more opportunities in the 80th and 89th. Charlotte FC started to slowly bring in their regular starting players, with their most effective chances both in stoppage time by Agyemang. The whistle blew, and extra time was nigh.
As players got ready for the additional time, fanbases on each side of the stadium revved up, anxious to see what their teams would bring as play started once again. Jack Neeley, a staple in Charlotte FC’s Next Pro team Crown Legacy FC — and earning his Charlotte FC debut — was in awe of the atmosphere.
“Playing with Legacy, it’s quiet on the road a lot, so having this is really cool,” he said.
Halfway through the first period of extra time, scoring finally opened up. In the 97th, Abada’s goal was quickly answered from North Carolina’s Mentzingen. A header in the 104th by Charlotte’s Agyemang created the lead for the MLS side. NCFC needed to get back into this if they were intent on making it through to the Round of 16, but was unable to find another equalizer in the last 15 minutes of the match. Charlotte scored twice in the dying moments of the game, with Petkovic scoring in the 119th, and Vargas scoring three minutes into stoppage time.
NCFC will play again at home May 9 against Orange County SC. Charlotte FC’s season continues May 10 as it travels to Nashville SC.
Charlotte will travel to play DC United as it continues its Cup journey either May 20 or 21.