NCFC u-23s defeated Tobacco Road FC 3-1 in the third installment of the Triangle Derby. Match being played at Durham County Stadium, the home Tobacco Road side took the lead through a long through-ball pass by Alex Comsia that found his new UNC teammate, Taff Wadda, who paced past the back-line and cooly finished past the keeper. NCFC u-23s stayed calm and diligent to find the equalizer.

Coach Dewan Bader made several changes and it paid off immediately as Tresor Mbuyu found himself on the end of a through-ball and slid it home to tie the score 1-1 with 20 minutes left to play. NCFC took the lead when UNC’s Jelani Pieters drove 50 yards down the pitch, dragged the ball to his favored right foot, and cooly passed it to the back of the net.

Tobacco Road FC made several substitutions and a formation change to get back into the match, but things got worse for them when substitute Joseph Buete got sent off for taking down Mbuyu as he was bearing down on goal. NCFC scored on the immediate free kick as Mbuyu found the ball at the six yard mark and squeezed home the insurance goal which gave the away side all three points.

Tobacco Road heads on the road to Charlotte to face off with the Eagles next Wednesday. North Carolina FC u-23s welcome Myrtle Beach Mutiny to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday evening in a top of the division clash.

Tobacco Road FC Starting XI

Not the best I have seen of Taff Wadda (UNC, Junior, Center Forward), but he showed his pace on several occasions especially when he ran through on goal and scored TR’s first. Seen him score with his right but would rather get it onto the his favored left foot. Decent change of direction and he has a hard strike on target. The forward has tremendous work-rate and will track back to win possession. Look forward to seeing him wear the Carolina blue this fall.

Alex Comsia (UNC, Senior, Center Back) reads the game well, looks to play through the lines, and can pass with range. The defender got an assist on Wadda’s goal with a long pass. He is a no nonsense defender that gets in strong on the challenge.

North Carolina FC u-23s Starting XI

Nick Retzlaff (NC State, R-Senior, Center Midfielder) is the glue that holds together this midfield. Checks back to receive from his defenders and either switches field or finds the pass into the front-line. Has tremendous lungs- from running side to side to cut out passing lanes to getting forward and joining the attack. Even though he lacks size (5’5) and strength, he is a very intelligent player that works hard for the team.

Tresor Mbuyu (Liberty University, Senior, Center Forward) scored two goals on the evening. Very light of size but is a quick player- looked better when he made runs beyond the back four. Scored his first goal through that method and got a player sent off after he chased a loose ball down, secured possession, and the last defender hacked him down. His second goal was very opportunistic, he found a loose ball in the area and was able to poke it home. Not very impressed with his hold-up play but as long as the goals get banged in, there could only be little complains.

Unless I make a road trip elsewhere, this is probably the last PDL match I am watching this season. I will write several other posts in the next few days of previous matches featuring the Charlotte Eagles, Carolina Dynamo, Lionsbridge FC, Tobacco Road FC, among others.