Match Information:
MLS NEXT Pro: Matchweek 26
Date: Thursday September 4, 2025
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Mecklenburg County Sportsplex (Matthews, NC)
Watch: **Apple TV-MLS Season Pass**
SOCIAL TAGS:
Instagram: carolinacorefc
Instagram: crownlegacyfc
Match Overview
CCFC Record: 6-9-8 (30 points – 11th in East)
CLFC Record: 6-9-8 (29 points – 12th in East)
CCFC vs CLFC All-Time: 2-1-2 (6 GF, 5 GA)
Carolina Core FC is on the road for the latest chapter against its intrastate rivals, Crown Legacy FC, in MLS NEXT Pro. The game will be livestreamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 pm ET.
STORYLINES
Foxes Win it Late
Carolina Core FC stunned FC Cincinnati 2 with a late surge of goals to secure all three points in the most recent match in MLS NEXT Pro. The Foxes took the lead in the 85th minute through midfielder Jacob Evans, giving the visitors a 2-1 advantage. However, the lead was short-lived as FC Cincinnati looked poised to earn a draw after Monsuru Opeyemi's outside-the-box shot found the bottom right corner, leveling the match. At the end of the match, Jacob Evans once again contributed by delivering a ball into the box, which Glory Nzingo scored the winning goal with. The goal brings Glory Nzingo’s total to eight goals in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season, making him the outright scoring leader for Carolina Core FC. The win against FC Cincinnati 2 also moves The Core to tenth place in the Eastern Conference, just two points outside the playoffs.
Player to Watch
Jacob Evans proved to be a game-changer for Carolina Core FC in the match against FC Cincinnati 2. The English midfielder was subbed into the game in the 70th minute and, in the short time he played, scored with a perfectly placed shot and assisted Nzingo’s goal to lead Carolina Core FC to victory. The goal was Evans’ fourth in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season—the third-most for CCFC this season. The assist is also his fourth of the season, making him the outright leader in assists for The Foxes. The 27-year-old midfielder also registered two key passes on the night, becoming the player with the fourth-highest key passes in all of MLS NEXT Pro. The midfield captain is finding form at the perfect time as CCFC pushes for the playoffs.
Crown Legacy FC Rout Last VisitorsCrown Legacy FC’s latest MLS NEXT Pro match saw them rout visitors Inter Miami CF II with a 6-0 scoreline, staying alive in its pursuit of the playoffs. The win moves CLFC to 29 points in the Eastern Conference, just one point and one spot behind intrastate rivals Carolina Core FC. Hat-trick hero Nimfasha Berchimas headlined Crown Legacy FC’s victory over Inter Miami CF II, scoring three goals in 33 minutes as a super sub. Crown Legacy FC has one more game before hosting Carolina Core FC, with an away trip to Orlando City B tonight. Crown Legacy has been unable to get the best of OCB in their last two meetings this season (0-1-1).
