Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Action, Presented by Crescent Ford
Carolina Core FC fell 2-1 to Virginia Dream FC in a tightly contested U.S. Open Cup First Round matchup on Thursday night. While the cup run concludes, the performance provided several key takeaways as the club returns to MLS NEXT Pro regular season action this weekend.
The Four Points:
1) Zeegers Opens the Account: Tim Zeegers netted his first goal for the club in spectacular fashion, firing a clinical, curling strike from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute to give CCFC the lead.
2) Defensive Resolve: The backline and goalkeeper Nick Holliday remained organized throughout the opening 45 minutes, keeping a clean sheet into the interval and managing several dangerous set-piece situations.
3) A New Face: The match saw the professional debut of striker Khalid Balogun, adding a new physical dimension to the Foxes’ attack.
4) Focus Shifts to Chicago: Following a quick turnaround, the team travels to Illinois to face Chicago Fire II this Sunday, March 22, looking to build on the momentum of the last three matches.