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Steel FC Completes Comeback, Tops NCFC

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 06/02/18, 10:06PM EDT

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Michee Ngalina scores game-winner in 85th minute at WakeMed Soccer Park


Photo courtesy of Rob Kinnan

CARY, N.C. – North Carolina FC thought it was on its way to securing a second consecutive victory in its four-game home stand that stretches from May 25 through June 13, but Bethlehem Steel FC scored two late to silence the crowd and record a 2-1 win from Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday evening. Michee Ngalina tapped in the game-winning goal after a beautiful ball across the penalty area by Santi Moar in the 85th minute. North Carolina had taken the lead early in the contest, as Peabo Doue touched in the first goal of the game in the 16th minute following Kyle Bekker’s corner kick, which bounced by everyone in the box before falling to the feet of the defender at the back post. North Carolina goalkeeper Alex Tambakis was tested a few times for the next hour of game time, and he made an important one-v-one save against Ngalina in the 48th minute to keep the shutout in tact. Steel FC kept knocking, though, and the breaththrough finally came in the 83rd minute, when Benjamin Ofeimu netted hit a blast in from close range. Momentum quickly swung in the direction of Bethlehem, who would score moments later to secure the victory. With the result, North Carolina falls to 3-5-2 on the campaign, while Bethlehem improves to 5-5-2 in 2018.

Scoring:
7’ – NC – Peabo Doue (Kyle Bekker)
83’ – BST – Benjamin Ofeimu (Santi Moar)
85’ – BST – Michee Ngalina (Santi Moar)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. Bethlehem has been a different team on the road compared to when it plays at Goodman Stadium, but Saturday’s late turnaround could prove to be a turning point for Steel FC. The team has posted a 2-4-0 record on the road in the 2018 USL campaign, falling to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Louisville City FC, Charleston Battery and Ottawa Fury, and looked likely to fall for a fifth time this season before the heroics of Benjamin Ofeimu and Michee Ngalina. Numerous young talents, such as Santi Moar and Adam Najem, showed well throughout the match, and if they can continue to combine and create, Bethlehem should be able to secure more and more points away from home this campaign.
  • 2. Saturday’s defeat left many stunned at WakeMed Soccer Park, including North Carolina FC’s players. The Cary-based side was well on its way to securing a 1-0 win, which would have been its third in the last four contests, and North Carolina goalkeeper Alex Tambakis made a couple fantastic stops early in the second half, which had everyone thinking victory for North Carolina FC. However, two late goals handed Bethlehem all three points, and North Carolina players could be seen with hands on their knees or sitting in awe on the pitch after the final whistle.
  • 3. North Carolina goalkeeper Alex Tambakis may have been on the losing end of Saturday’s result, but he turned in an admirable shift and was one of the top performers for both sides. Tambakis recorded four saves and one catch during the 90 minutes of action. He also had great distribution, completing 87.2 percent of his passes, including 16 long passes. His best play came in the 48th minute, though, as he denied a breakaway opportunity for Steel FC, saving a shot from Ngalina after Moar made a strong run through the heart of North Carolina.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Santi Moar, Bethlehem Steel FC – The playmaker recorded two assists and completed 79.3 percent of his passes on the evening.

Upcoming Games:

North Carolina FC vs. FC Cincinnati – June 9, 7 p.m. ET, Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Bethlehem Steel FC vs. Louisville City FC – June 9, 5 p.m. ET, Goodman Stadium

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