FINAL: North Carolina FC 2, Riverhounds 0

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

USL Championship Regular Season Week 7

FINAL: Riverhounds 0-2 North Carolina FC

Live statistics: USLC Match Center

Stream: KDKA+/ESPN+

Instant Recap

On a dark and dreary night at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, the quality of play on the field unfortunately matched the weather, as the Hounds dropped a 2-0 defeat to North Carolina FC.

The first half proved a relatively even affair, with neither side able to find a breakthrough or looking partcularly dangerous in the attacking third. While North Carolina edged possession and the rare opportunity, a scoreless half was appropriate on the state of play.

North Carolina’s first good chance of the match came early, as an errant centering pass from Illal Osumanu in midfield was intercepted for a quick-paced breakaway. But a blazing recovery run from Sean Suber helped to cover his defensive linemate’s mistake and put off any potential chance.

The Hounds would generate their best chance of the match just after the quarter-hour mark via some clever dribbling. Aidan O’Toole split two defenders down the middle on the right wing before ripping a cross all the way through, where it was picked up and recycled by Danny Griffin on the left wing. His return ball got past several defenders to fall to Perrin Barnes, who’s volley attempt sailed over the crossbar and clear.

Another chance would come the Hounds way just before the break, but not from their own play. Instead, a ripped back-pass from the North Carolina right side breezed past their own goalkeeper and fortunately past the post as well, just narrowly avoiding an own goal.

Ultimately, the netting would go wanting, as nobody could put any efforts meaningfully on-target – leaving the scoreline at 0-0 heading into the break.

It wouldn’t be long into the second half before the deadlock was broken, however. Just after the hour mark, a deep throw-in for North Carolina was taken into the Hounds box. The ball was cleared only as far as Louis Perez at the top of the 18 yard box, who promptly uncorked a rocket into the bottom-right. Eric Dick couldn’t reach it in time, and it nestled into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead for the visitors.

They wouldn’t have to wait long to score again either. Minutes later, a very similar deep throw-in was again cleared out by the Hounds defense. This time, the throw-in taker Mikey Maldonado was there to cycle a cross back in where it was headed goalwards by Pedro Dolabella and beyond Dick’s reach, doubling the North Carolina advantage.

The Hounds would get a chance to pull one back after a series of substitutions in the 75th minute, as they’d earn a free kick just outside the box. Bertin Jacquesson stepped up to take it, and blasted it into the wall of North Carolina defenders before the ref blew his whistle for a man down.

Ultimately, a late yellow card for Beto Ydrach aside, the Hounds would be unable to find even one goal to make this match competitive. The visitors would see out their two goal lead until the final whistle, sending the Hounds to their fourth-straight league defeat.

They’ll hope to unexpectedly turn their fortunes in their midweek contest Wednesday night against New York City FC in the U.S. Open Cup.

Pre-Match Notes

• The Riverhounds and North Carolina meet for the second time this year, playing to a 1-1 draw in the season opener on March 8th
• Bertin Jacquesson makes his first appearance in the gameday roster in 2025 for a league game, returning from his pre-season injury with a potential second appearance this year overall
• The Hounds have not won a USL league match since March 29th, with only a win over the Columbus Crew 2 in the Open Cup during that span

Match Updates

Look for reports from Highmark Stadium, including starting lineups and in-game updates here…

Fulltime – Riverhounds 0, North Carolina FC 2

90′ – Yellow card for Beto Ydrach as he commits the tactical foul on the North Carolina counter. Final moments of this one as the visitors look to see out this lead.

78′ – Hounds with an immediate, dangerous free kick after the subs. Jacquesson takes, but it’s into the wall. The North Carolina player it hit goes down and we’ll have a pause as he’s worked on.

75′ – Subs for both sides. The Hounds bring out O’Toole, Sample, and Williams to replace them with Jacquesson, Garcia, and Larsen. North Carolina takes off Sundstrom for Donovan.

72′ – Another goal for North Carolina. Again, the deep-throw in is recycled – this time for a Maldonado cross – and Pedro Dolabella gets a perfect header back across goal and beyond the reach of Eric Dick. The Hounds trail 2-0.

66′ – Goal, North Carolina FC. A rocket of a shot from the top of the 18 yard box for Louis Perez beats Eric Dick to the bottom-right corner. The visitors lead, 1-0.

60′ – Huge chance for NCFC there, as a deep cross from the left wing reaches the penalty spot and Pedro Dolabella gets a leg to it in free space, but over the crossbar. Big miss.

54′ – A rebound off the corner falls to Rafa Mentzingen at the edge of the box for North Carolina. He rips a vicious volley that just buzzes past the top-right corner, goal kick for the Hounds.

46′ – Second half underway, still deadlocked at zero as we kick off.

Halftime – Riverhounds 0, North Carolina FC 0. A relatively even first half, maybe a bit better for the visitors, but neither side looking particularly dangerous thus far.

45′ – A whipped cross from Jackson Walti is into a dangerous area, but Griffin’s header is glancing and prevents the ball from reaching Williams behind him, goal kick to come.

43′ – Nearly an own goal there are a North Carolina defender blasts it beyond their own keeper, but it goes wide and out for a corner. Ensuing kick is taken and ends up with a deflected shot out for a throw-in.

35′ – NCFC corner from the far post after pressure down the right wing. Taken towards the penalty spot where it’s headed goalwards, but an easy save for Eric Dick.

25′ – A North Carolina corner this time. Taken from the far flag and the visitors get a shot off centrally, blocked by the Hounds defense. No calls for handball forthcoming despite calls for it from NCFC.

22′ – Another corner for the Hounds, once again won by some good hustle from Perrin Barnes. First short effort turned out for another corner. This time long into the box, ending up with a blocked Auggie Williams shot.

17′ – Aidan O’Toole with a very clever move to beat two defenders on the right wing. His cross goes long where Griffin recovers it and feed the cross back in. Perrin Barnes rips a volley off it but it just goes over the bar.

13′ – Hounds corner coming up, won by Perrin Barnes. Sample over to take. Goes back post and cleared away.

9′ – North Carolina FC corner is flicked onwards and out for a secondary corner off a Hounds defender. Second chance taken deep in the box and headed clear.

4′ – Dangerous free kick from the right wing here for the Hounds, won by Williams. Sample takes towards the center of the box, but cleared away easily.

3′ – A backtracking Sean Suber bails out Illal Osumanu after a terrible centering pass was easily intercepted and rapidly brought upfield by NCFC.

1′ – The teams are on the field, the weather is a bit gloomy, but we are underway nonetheless at Highmark Stadium! Hounds in their black and yellow hoops, North Carolina all in red.

STARTING LINEUPS: