Match Recap: From 3-1 down to 3-3 final, Bethlehem Steel FC makes late comeback and steals point from North Carolina FC

CARY, N.C. (September 8, 2019) –  The match didn’t start the way Bethlehem Steel FC wanted for James Chambers’ 100^th start for the club, but through a lot of grit and determination the Boys in Blue were able to pull a result on the road at North Carolina FC. After going down 2-0 early in the night and being down 3-1 later, the Steel fought back to a 3-3 draw at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

Steel FC went down early in the match, with North Carolina FC’s Austin da Luz and Robert Kristo burying early goals. Trailing most of the half, the Steel showed the hosts that they weren’t going away easy, as forward Yomi Samuele Scintu notched his first Steel FC goal in the 45^th minute before the halftime break. Unfortunately Robert Kristo struck again for North Carolina in the 47^th minute as the visitors went 3-1 down, but the Steel answered back in the 60^th minute through a free kick by team captain James Chambers. The midfielder made his 100^th start for Steel FC, the only player do so all-time, and slotted a free kick into the right corner past a diving Alex Tambakis to go 3-2 back. One more was needed and Shanyder Borgelin stepped up. Borgelin got on the end of a deflected ball that was fired across the box by Cole Turner. The goal, also his first all-time for the club, leveled for the Steel in the 84^th minute and pushed the score to its final of 3-3.

Steel FC had a historic night, with James Chambers making his 100^th start and Yomi Samuele Scintu and Shanyder Borgelin both opening their scoring accounts. The Pennsylvania club also managed to stay undefeated against North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park, improving to 1-0-1. The match also saw the debut of Philadelphia Union Academy midfielder Danny Flores, coming on as a substitute in the 80^th minute. Flores played 10 minutes and made two tackles in his debut appearance.

Bethlehem Steel FC next travels to Indianapolis, Indiana to take on Indy Eleven in their next matchup on Saturday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. ET | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind. | ESPN +).

RECAP:

Bethlehem Steel FC 3 – North Carolina FC 3
WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)
Saturday, September 7, 2019

MATCH INFO:

Venue: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, N.C.
Referee: J.J. Bilinski
Assistant Referees: Brooke Mayo; Benjamin Wooten
Fourth Official: Tom Chupkowski
Weather: 83 degrees and clear
Attendance: 3,457

GOALS/ASSISTS

NC – Austin da Luz (Unassisted) 9’
NC – Robert Kristo (Graham Smith) 20’
BST – Yomi Samuele Scintu (Issa Rayyan) 45’
NC – Robert Kristo (Unassisted) 47’
BST – James Chambers (Unassisted) 60’
BST – Shanyder Borgelin (Unassisted) 84’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

NC – Sam Brotherton (caution) 16’
NC – Robert Kristo (caution) 48’
NC – Duval Wapiwo (caution) 85’

LINEUP

Bethlehem Steel FC: Todd Morton; Walter Cortés, Steve Kingue, Ben Ofeimu, Issa Rayyan (Dante Huckaby 89’); Cole Turner, James Chambers ©; Axel Picazo (Shanyder Borgelin 74’), Zach Zandi; Patrick Bohui (Danny Flores 80’), Yomi Samuele Scintu

Substitutes not used: Lukas Burns; Saed Díaz

North Carolina FC: Alex Tambakis; Caleb Duvernay, Sam Brotherton, Alexander Comisa, Colton Storm (D.J. Taylor 72’); Austin da Luz ©, Duval Wapiwo, Graham Smith, Ulrich Ewolo; Austin Panchot (Steven Miller 58’); Robert Kristo (Justin Rennicks 81’)

Substitutes not used: Darrin MacLeod; Aaron Guillen, Viktor Igbekoyi
TEAM NOTES

At the beginning of tonight’s match, Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder James Chambers became the first player to start 100 matches for the club. The captain has now appeared in 109 matches (100 starts) across his four seasons with the USL Championship side.

Bethlehem Steel FC forward Yomi Samuele Scintu notched his first goal for the club in the 45^th minute of tonight’s match against North Carolina FC. The 22 year old has made nine appearances, four starts and scored one goal since being acquired by the Steel from VfB Eichstatt earlier this year. 

Philadelphia Union Academy midfielder Danny Flores made his Steel FC debut, coming on as a substitute in the 80^th minute of tonight’s match. Flores played 10 minutes and made two tackles in his debut appearance.

Steel FC forward Shanyder Borgelin scored his first professional goal tonight. He has now made 17 appearances, five starts and notched one goal.

Bethlehem Steel FC next travels to Indianapolis, Indiana to take on Indy Eleven in their next matchup on Saturday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. ET | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind. | ESPN +).