— Perhaps it was appropriate that a battle between two aviary-themed teams opened with skydivers and an aerial flyover. Ultimately, it was the Carolina RailHawks that flew higher than the migrating Loons, coming back from an early goal down, then holding on for a 2-1 victory over Minnesota United FC to open the 2016 NASL regular season.

The RailHawks rolled out a starting XI nearly identical to last week’s friendly against Toluca FC, only inserting perennial spark plug Tiyi Shipalane for Marvin Ceballos. Meanwhile, the offensively stacked Loons began with two of their potent newcomers, Lance Laing and Stefano Pinho, on the bench.

With the RailHawks pressing high from the opening whistle, Minnesota took early advantage. Defender Damian Lowe delivered a pinpoint ball over the top of RailHawks defender Connor Tobin that found streaking forward Christian Ramirez. Ramirez’s wonder strike off the half volley sailed over goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald and found cord to put Minnesota up 1-0.

It was Carolina’s turn for a golazo in the 13th minute. Alex Perez’s long ball forward found Tiyi Shipalane cutting inside. Shipalane was first to the ball, and his side-foot chip shot arched over Minnesota keeper Sammy N’Djock to even the score at 1-1.

“I was trying to check inside and I saw [Justin] Davis was holding the line high,” Shipalane said. “I saw the goalkeeper off his line, and I just tried to make sure I put it in the back of the net. If that didn’t go in, I don’t think coach [Colin Clarke] likes chips and stuff. I got away with one.”

The RailHawks forged ahead in the 26th, when right back Kareem Moses’ cross into the box found Austin da Luz in front of goal. Da Luz’s ensuing header bounded past N’Djock to put Carolina up 2-1 at intermission.

A head-to-head collision in the 58th minute between Moses and Minnesota’s Bernardo Añor halted play for several minutes and necessitated substitutions for both teams. Laing entered the game for Minnesota, but according his manager Carl Craig, his contribution remained minimal.

“Laing hasn’t reached the level yet that I expect of him in terms of fitness, and [Danny] Cruz has, although he didn’t have his greatest game today,” Craig said. “Apart from [Laing’s] one great run—to the untrained eye, that’s spectacular, but in terms of the team and getting the other stuff, there’s still work that needs to be done.”

Carolina tenuous advantage was further hampered in the 88th minute, when second-half substitute Simon Mensing earned a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Pinho. But Carolina’s revamped backline held firm through the end of regulation and five minutes of added time.

Craig said his defense showed “good and bad.”

“A little of 6s and 7s,” Craig chortled. “On the header goal, we were too stretched apart. I think Paul Black and Austin da Luz gave our right side a little bit of a runaround in the first half. A couple of little issues there, plus a lack of discipline in not playing the plan. But only toward the end when we were getting tired did Carolina create any chances, as we were pushing to get the equalizer.”

“More than our defense was our carelessness with the ball that was our biggest issue,” Craig declared.

A Minnesota soccer club has not defeated the RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park since September 2011, and that streak continued Saturday afternoon.

“We always beat Minnesota [at home],” Clarke cracked.

“I thought we showed some good character,” Clarke continued. “Maybe last year we would have conceded a goal late on and came away 2-2 and felt disappointed. We didn’t today. I don’t remember where Akira really had to stand up and make a save in the last 45 minutes. Full credit to the back four, particularly Beckie and Tobin, who I thought were superb.”

The RailHawks (1-0-0) travel to Rayo OKC next weekend, then return to Cary on Saturday, April 16 to host the Ottawa Fury. Meanwhile, Minnesota (0-0-1) returns to the road at FC Edmonton next Sunday.

BOX SCORE

CAR: Fitzgerald, Moses (Mensing, 59’), Tobin, Beckie, Black, Marcelin, Perez, Shipalane (Watson, 74’), Albadawi, da Luz, Shriver

MNU: N’Djock, Davis, Calvano, Lowe, Venegas, Brovsky, Cruz (Banks, 76’), Speas (Pinho, 70’), Jordan, Añor (Laing, 60’), Ramirez

GOALS

CAR: Shipalane, 13’ (Perez); da Luz, 26’ (Moses)

MNU: Ramirez, 3’ (Lowe)

CAUTIONS

CAR: Beckie (40’)

MNU: Calvano (54’), Banks (83’)

EJECTIONS

CAR: Mensing, 88’

MNU: ---

ATTENDANCE: 4.159