By
Miami FC Welcome Back Former Captain with Home Victory
By Brandon Hernandez
Former 2023 Miami FC captain Paco Craig and goaltender Jake McGuire came onto the pitch at
Pitbull Stadium and looked to have played with something to prove. Whether it was to the
management that moved on from them for younger assets, or to keep North Carolina FC afloat,
their squad couldn’t follow through. Miami, for the first time this season, gave its fans a proper
show.
Miami FC (2-0-4) defeated North Carolina FC (2-2-3) 2-1 at South Dade Kia Field in Miami,
Florida, Saturday. Miami now has its first winning streak of the USL Championship League
season and its first victory at home of the 2025 campaign.
The opening two minutes of play already had the referee's attention. A miscalculated tackle by
defender Daltyn Knutson awarded North Carolina a free kick outside the top right corner of the
box. Luckily for Miami, they were able to keep the shot off target. Miami had nine fouls alone in
the first half.
Miami FC controlled the possession game early. The home club had the ball 56.5% of the time
throughout the first 10 minutes, but scoring chances were limited. Miami nearly had a chance at
the 15’ minute when a pass zipped into the box in front of an open forward -- but it was ruled
offside before any attempt at goal.
With a steady pace of passes, Miami answered quickly to the missed opportunity with a smooth
set up for forward Francisco Bonfiglio in front of goal. The Argentine striker took advantage of
his position and put the ball at the back of the net in the 18’ minute.
North Carolina’s frustration on defense ruined its momentum early on. A penalty just outside
their own box provided Knutson a rare opportunity. The defender didn’t mince in on a cross in
the box on its way to him. Knutson glided toward the ball, and through defenders, headed it in
front of the goal and into the net at the 27’ minute.
Up two goals by the 30th minute, Miami had its largest home lead of the season in USL
Championship League play. Goalkeeper Bill Hamid kept N.C.F.C. at nile throughout the first 45
minutes, but North Carolina’s Paco Craig scored off a crossed pass in stoppage time. The
former Miami FC captain’s revenge goal was the last shot on goal at the half. Miami led 2-1 at
the break.
The second half went into a quick frenzy of deep passes down the pitch. Lobbed attempts by
both sides brought both goaltenders back and forth in their box. The active play in the infield
didn’t result in any shots on goal, however.
North Carolina FC inched closer in possession control past the 55’ minute. The visitors blitzed
like bees against Miami FC and its midfielders early in the second half. Still, Miami kept its
composure and continued to look for openings at goal -- such as the first shot on goal of the half
at the 57’ minute.
Into the 70’ minute, Miami nearly subbed in a whole new 11-man unit to freshen its legs. New
additions to the game, such as midfielder Deian Veron,used skillful dribbling to push the ball
toward the corners of their side of the field. It was a good few minutes of ‘keep away’ until
N.C.F.C. produced two corners within a 10 minute span. The game kept shifting toward North
Carolina as they took control of more than 50% of possession to end the game, but Miami
continued to clear anything that remotely got close to Hamid's point of view.
After an intense seven minutes of stoppage time to end the game, Miami’s defense prevailed
and it locked in its first home victory of the year with a former captain taking the fall. The club's
next game will be on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a USL Jagermeister Cup
match April 26 at 7:30 p.m.
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