RailHawks come up short in 1-0 loss to Minnesota

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

BLAINE, MINN. – The Carolina RailHawks continued their rough start to the North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall season.

After suffering a 2-1 loss to Indy Eleven last week, the RailHawks came up on the losing side in a 1-0 decision to the Spring-season champion Minnesota United FC on Thursday.

Minnesota’s Daniel Mendes scored the deciding goal in the 26th minute, and with ample time remaining to even the score, Carolina couldn’t narrow nor overcome the deficit.

The RailHawks were the last team to have beaten United at NSC Stadium, and both teams played to a scoreless draw back on May 24th during the two teams’ Spring season match.

However, even with a breakaway opportunity and a shot off the post from forward Ty Shipalane, the RailHawks couldn’t prevent themselves from extending what now has turned into a three-game overall losing streak – including an Open Cup loss to FC Dallas that proceeded the team’s two recent NASL losses.

Having not won since topping FC Puebla 2-1 in an international friendly on July 6th, the Railhawks will look to get back on the winning track in league play when they travel to Texas to face the San Antonio Scorpions on Wednesday before returning home to host Ottawa Fury FC at WakeMed Soccer Park next Saturday.

BOX SCORE               

LINEUPS:

CAR: GK Goodwin, D Low, D Scott, D Tobin, D Graye, M Davidson, M Osaki (Zimmerman, 64th), M Martinez, M Albadawi, M Shipalane, F Aa. King

MNU:GK Hildebrandt, D Davis, D Dias, D Calvano, M Pitchkolan, M Franks (Juliano, 77th), M Ibarra (Reed, 90th), M Daley (Watson, 71st), M Mendes, F Ramirez 

GOALS: CAR: –, MNU:Daniel Mendes (26th   

CAUTIONS: CAR:–, MNU:Calvano – 85th

EJECTIONS: CAR: Kupono Low – 80th; MNU: Justin Davis – 80th