Revolution II’s Late Comeback Undone by Equalizer, Penalty Shootout Loss

HIGH POINT, N.C. — New England Revolution II (11-7-8, 43 pts.) battled Carolina Core FC (5-9-11, 27 pts.) to a 2-2 draw on Friday night before falling 4-2 in the ensuing penalty shootout.

The match kicked off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Truist Point Stadium to a crowd of 4,483.

Starting XI versus Carolina Core.

New England Revolution II starting lineup: 4-3-3 | Max Weinstein, Damario McIntosh, Jake Shannon, Gabe Dahlin (C), Logan Azar, Javaun Mussenden, Cristiano Oliveira, Judah Siqueira, Makai Wells, Myles Morgan, Marcos Zambrano

New England Revolution II substitutes:| Ryker Fauth, Zachary LaPierre, Shuma Sasaki, Levi Katsell, Aarin Prajapati, Tylon Smith, Schinieder Mimy, Chris Mbai-Assem

Carolina Core starting lineup: 3-5-2 | Nolan Anderson, Bryce Swinehart, Rashid Tetteh, Bodie Ford, Seth Hammond, Ricardo Montenegro, Ryan Baer (C), Andrew Czech, Graham Ford, Nicholas Kaloukian, Arnaud Tattevin

Carolina Core substitutes:| Trevor Jackson, Charles Orbaugh, Nolan Evers, Corey Lundeen, Khalid Balogun, Thomas Raimbault, Tristan Weber, Valentino Ontiveros, David Diaz

The match began with New England Revolution II immediately pushing forward and applying pressure in Carolina’s defensive third.

New England created the first opportunity in the third minute when midfielder Logan Azar attempted to play a cutback into the penalty area, but goalkeeper Nolan Anderson collected the pass.

Less than a minute later, Carolina Core threatened at the opposite end with a similar cutback, which Makai Wells cleared inside the six-yard box.

Carolina’s Nicholas Kaloukian generated the next chance in the fifth minute, heading Seth Hammond’s free-kick delivery narrowly over the crossbar.

New England appeared to take the lead in the 11th minute when forward Myles Morgan headed Judah Siqueira’s delivery into the net. However, the goal was quickly disallowed for offside.

Defender Gabe Dahlin looks to win the ball during an MLSNP match versus Carolina Core. Image Courtesy of Carolina Core.

Arnaud Tattevin created Carolina’s next opportunity in the 14th minute, sending an effort from outside the box narrowly over the crossbar.

Less than a minute later, Andrew Czech found space on the right side of the penalty area, but goalkeeper Max Weinstein produced a spectacular save to deny him.

Marcos Zambrano generated New England’s next chance in the 17th minute, seeing his effort from inside the box blocked and cleared by defender Ricks Ford.

Jake Shannon threatened in the 25th minute, but his header from inside the penalty area went narrowly wide of the right post.

New England created the best chance of the half three minutes later when Myles Morgan’s effort from inside the six-yard box struck the crossbar.

Defender Jake Shannon looks to make a block during an MLSNP match versus Carolina Core. Image Courtesy of Carolina Core.

Bryce Swinehart created Carolina’s next opportunity in the 37th minute, but Max Weinstein saved his right-footed effort from the right side of the penalty area.

Two minutes later, Revolution II midfielder Cristiano Oliveira received a yellow card for a foul on Seth Hammond.

Andrew Czech threatened for Carolina in the 41st minute, sending a header from the center of the box narrowly over the crossbar.

Hammond generated the final opportunity of the half two minutes later, but Oliveira blocked and cleared his right-footed effort from the center of the box.

After 45 minutes and one minute of stoppage time, the two sides entered halftime scoreless.

Halftime between New England Revolution II & Carolina Core.

Before the start of the second half, Carolina Core head coach Jake Davis made two substitutions, introducing David Diaz and Corey Lundeen in place of Graham Ford and Arnaud Tattevin.

Carolina opened the second half on the front foot, immediately pushing forward and applying pressure in New England’s defensive third.

Despite Carolina’s early pressure, Cristiano Oliveira created the first opportunity of the half less than a minute after the restart, but his effort from the right side of the penalty area was blocked and cleared.

David Diaz threatened for Carolina in the 48th minute, sending a long-range effort high and wide of the net.

New England threatened again two minutes later when Damario McIntosh capitalized on a Carolina turnover and played a square pass toward Myles Morgan, but defender Bryce Swinehart intervened with a sliding clearance.

Makai Wells looks to make a play during an MLSNP match versus Carolina Core. Image Courtesy of Carolina Core.

Ricks Ford created Carolina’s next opportunity in the 58th minute, sending a left-footed effort from the center of the box over the crossbar.

One minute later, Cristiano Oliveira saw an effort blocked and cleared by Ford.

Revolution II head coach Pablo Moreira made his first substitution in the 60th minute, introducing Jared Smith in place of Damario McIntosh.

Seth Hammond threatened for Carolina three minutes later, but his left-footed effort went wide of the net.

In the 64th minute, Carolina Core head coach Jake Davis made his third substitution, replacing Andrew Czech with Thomas Raimbault.

Graham Ford takes a corner kick during an MLSNP match versus New England Revolution II.

In the 66th minute, Carolina Core midfielder Thomas Raimbault was issued a yellow card.

Following the foul, Carolina Core head coach Jake Davis made his fourth substitution, replacing Rashid Tetteh with Nolan Evers.

In the 70th minute, Revolution II head coach Pablo Moreira made his second change of the match, introducing Shuma Sasaki in place of Makai Wells.

Less than a minute later, Carolina Core took the lead.

Forward Nicholas Kaloukian attempted to deliver a cross into the box, but Logan Azar blocked his initial effort. The ball fell back to Kaloukian, who sent another delivery into the area for Bryce Swinehart to slot into the bottom-right corner, giving Carolina a 1-0 lead.

Less than a minute later, Carolina threatened again when Kaloukian forced Max Weinstein into a crucial save.

In the 75th minute, Carolina Core head coach Jake Davis made his fifth and final substitution, introducing Charles Orbaugh in place of Swinehart. While leaving the field, Swinehart pushed Marcos Zambrano and was shown a yellow card.

Two minutes later, Carolina midfielder Ryan Baer was shown a yellow card for a hard foul on Javaun Mussenden.

Following the foul, Revolution II head coach Pablo Moreira made his third and fourth substitutions, introducing Matthew Jean Baptiste and Aarin Prajapati in place of Cristiano Oliveira and Logan Azar.

Entering the 83rd minute, New England leveled the scoreline.

Forward Marcos Zambrano stepped up and buried a 25-yard free kick into the top-right corner, leveling the score at 1-1.

Less than two minutes later, New England took the lead.

Following a combination involving Javaun Mussenden, Myles Morgan and Matthew Jean-Baptiste, the ball found Marcos Zambrano entering the penalty area. Zambrano executed a Cruyff turn before slotting his finish into the bottom-left corner to give New England a 2-1 lead.

New England threatened again in the 89th minute when goalkeeper Nolan Anderson produced an unbelievable fingertip save to deny Matthew Jean-Baptiste.

Entering the 90+2 minute, Carolina leveled the scoreline.

Following a long service into the area, Nicholas Kaloukian headed the ball into the path of Seth Hammond, who slotted his finish past Max Weinstein to level the score at 2-2.

Following the goal, Revolution II head coach Pablo Moreira was shown a yellow card.

In the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, Revolution II midfielder Shuma Sasaki received a yellow card for a foul on David Diaz.

After 90 minutes and six minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle sounded with the score level at 2-2. The match proceeded to a penalty shootout to determine which team would earn the additional point.

 

Ryan Baer opened the shootout for Carolina, burying his right-footed attempt into the bottom-right corner.

Marcos Zambrano stepped up first for New England, but his right-footed effort struck the crossbar and sailed over the net.

David Diaz doubled Carolina’s advantage by slotting his attempt into the bottom-right corner past Max Weinstein. Jake Shannon then saw New England’s second penalty saved by Nolan Anderson in the bottom-left corner.

Nicholas Kaloukian extended Carolina’s lead to 3-0 with a powerful attempt that struck the underside of the crossbar and crossed the line.

Javaun Mussenden converted New England’s first penalty, firing his attempt down the center to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Thomas Raimbault then struck the crossbar with Carolina’s fourth attempt before Matthew Jean-Baptiste buried his penalty into the bottom-left corner to pull New England within one.

Bodie Ford converted Carolina’s fifth attempt, rolling his left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner to secure a 4-2 shootout victory.

New England Revolution Logo. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution.

Pablo Moreira and the New England Revolution II (11-7-8, 43 pts) are on the road to face Eastern Conference side Columbus Crew 2 (12-5-7, 45 pts.). The match will kick off at Columbus Crew Stadium on Sunday, September 13th at 6:00 p.m. EST. For more MLS NEXT Pro content, you can find it on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.

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Caleb Pongratz

Hello! My name is Caleb Pongratz. I am a 24-year-old journalist that covers Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro, USL, USL Championship, USL League One, USL League Two & the United States Men's National Team. I'm originally from Hanover, Massachusetts and currently reside in Boston, Massachusetts. Schooling: • Hanover High School (2016-2020) • Suffolk University (2020-2024) - Graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in communications - Broadcast Journalism.

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