The Fourth of July means celebrating America’s Independence, family cookouts, fireworks, pool parties, and for the proud fans of North Carolina FC, it also means a clash with Miami FC at WakeMed Soccer Park. Oh, yeah, and did I mention fireworks!?! NCFC supporters will be hoping the post-game firework display is not the only awe-inspiring flash of brilliance they see at Sahlen’s Stadium on Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, winning soccer has been elusive for the boys in blue, who are riding a five-game winless streak and the worst month in recent memory.

Meanwhile, the NASL’s top team, Miami FC, has only lost once all season (back in early April), and had the opposite June, winning all six matches they played and seven in a row dating back to May. A win tonight would clinch the Spring Season for the team.

This impressive streak by Miami also includes two wins over MLS squads during the U.S. Open Cup. Miami is now the NASL’s lone USOC survivor, advancing to the Quarterfinals to play USL’s Cincinnati FC.

The two NASL clubs have been heading in opposite directions for over a month now, with NCFC slipping down the NASL Spring table from second to fifth place, and while Miami FC has put a stranglehold on first.

Despite the frustrating recent results for North Carolina FC and their fans though, Miami FC will be exorcising frustrations of their own. Why would a top team have anything to be unsettled about? Miami FC has now defeated every NASL opponent except for the San Francisco Deltas, who they are yet to play, and our very own North Carolina FC.

Having played twice already, NCFC has held serve, drawing Miami both home and away — both matches with a 1:1 score line. The last time out, NCFC almost defeated Miami, but a 95th minute goal by Robert Kcira salvaged Miami’s night. Though Miami has had a tough time breaking down our NCFC boys in the past, those results were from over two months ago.

Under the direction of Milan legend, Alessandro Nesta, Miami has spear-headed the NASL with a dynamic aggressive offense, as well as a sturdy and dependable defense. Overall, Miami’s league leading +14 goal differential has been bolstered by their +7 goal differential from just their past four NASL matches.

Leading the NASL’s best attack has been the league’s scoring leader Vincenzo Martinez (31 shots, 8 goals, 4 assists), and former golden boot winner Stefano Pinho (21 shots, 4 goals, 2 assists). A strong third option for Miami FC has been Kwadwo Poku (14 shots, 1 assist, 3 goals), who has been Miami’s emotional leader all season, picking up his club whenever called upon. Unfortunately for Miami, Poku will still be serving a Red Card suspension when they take on NCFC.

Collectively, Miami FC has not only blistered the league in goals, but they have also been highly efficient, scoring on almost twelve percent of their shot attempts. Comparatively, Miami’s scoring rate is second best in the NASL, and edges North Carolina FC’s mark of eleven percent goals per shot attempt. Keeping up with Miami’s scoring has been unbearably difficult for their opponents, who have only managed nine total goals over thirteen games — two of which have been earned by NCFC. If Miami continues to play with confidence, and keeps their legs after playing extra weekday matches as contenders in the U.S. Open Cup, they should be able to challenge NCFC’s resolve and finally earn a win against their Carolina foes.

If you are North Carolina FC, how do you pick yourself up after getting beat up all June, and starving for a league win? As if losing back-to-back games against a formally winless Indy Eleven squad was bad enough, NCFC now holds the short straw this week, and must try to solve the Miami enigma.

If this were any other matchday, I would be doubtful in our chances to pull off the upset. However, playing on the Fourth of July, in front of a should-be packed stadium, may offer the additional motivation that our boys need.

On the field, the most essential unit that NCFC needs to perform well will be their defense. With a healthy squad, NCFC’s backline of Paul Black, Conner Tobin, Christian Ibeagha, and Steven Miller has proven they can stifle the league’s best offenses. Throw in defensive midfielder James Marcelin, and you have a defense that is a physical force that plays with heart and toughness. Leading our attack will need to be Naz Albadawi from the central midfield, who hopefully continues to be masterful on the ball.

The main challenge for NCFC over the past few weeks has been finding a reliable offensive target. Midfielder Lance Laing was pulled after halftime last match for not “showing enough effort” in the coach’s eyes. However, to everyone else who has watched this team play this year, Laing is vital towards putting defenses on their back foot, as well as offering lethal precision on set pieces.

Forward Matt Fondy has fallen off his 2016 scoring pace with the club, which has been perplexing to fans. Fondy has been more hesitant towards goal as of late, which is an all-too-familiar scene under coach Colin Clarke’s passive offensive scheme when playing in the final third of the field. We have yet to see any breakout players, or any consistent offensive leaders, but at some point NCFC will either need to take ownership of their lack of scoring, or continue to drift towards the insignificant side of the NASL table.

As long as Laing can stay in the game, and Fondy can up his aggressiveness towards goal, NCFC can threaten any back line, including Miami FC — who has yet to shut out our boys in blue. The talent is there for NCFC, so as long as we do not out-coach ourselves, then we should be treated to matchday fireworks at WakeMed in the colors of Blue and Gold.

Happy Fourth of July everyone! Go NCFC!

WHO: North Carolina FC (15 points — 5th place) vs Miami FC (30 points — 1st place)

WHAT: NASL Spring Season

WHERE: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

WHEN: Tuesday, July 4th at 7:30pm