Sergio Guerra, Sports Editor/Photographer 

Carolina Core FC has now played four games in the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season and has gained two points from its last two matches; a scoreless draw against Chicago Fire FC II and – most recently – a 1-1 stalemate against Inter Miami CF II. The results leave the Foxes without a win in the opening month of the season, which they hope to turn around next time out against Philadelphia Union II in April. However, Carolina Core is no stranger to slow starts, going winless in March last season to go on and qualify for the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs. 

Truist Point Showdown 

The Foxes’ hosted Inter Miami CF II at Truist Point Stadium on Saturday, March 28 in a 1-1 thriller. Despite holding a minority of the possession in the first half, Inter Miami CF II struck in the 36’ minute of play after Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida connected with a wonderful cross from Theo Vorenkamp.  

Over the course of the match, Carolina Core FC would dominate in most offensive statistics, taking 23 shots (seven shots on target) compared to Miami’s 11 (two shots on target). However, Carolina Core FC would not find an equalizer to the visitors’ opener until the last five minutes of regulation time where Nathan Brown squared the ball across the penalty area to find Thomas Raimbault who cooly found the bottom left corner of the goal.  

The 1-1 result would hold until the final whistle and both teams earned a point for their troubles. The MLS NEXT Pro league rules dictate that a penalty shootout should take place in the event of a draw and that an extra point be awarded to the winner of said shootout. Anthony Sumo Jr. would step up first and miss the penalty, unknowingly giving the fans a clue as to what was to come. 

Carolina Core FC would go on to miss all four of its penalty kicks, while Inter Miami CF II would make two of its kicks to win the extra shootout point. Thomas Raimbault would go on to be named man of the match for the Foxes’ thanks to his late game heroics to get to a shootout. 

A Look at the Eastern Conference 

The result leaves Carolina Core FC in 15^th place in the Eastern Conference of MLS NEXT Pro. The Foxes are two points clear of last placed FC Cincinnati 2 who also made the playoffs last year. On the other end of the conference table, Crown Legacy FC (affiliate of Charlotte FC) sits at the top with 12 points and four straight wins. Interestingly, Crown Legacy FC finished in 13^th place in the 2025 season and did not qualify for the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs. Carolina Core FC will face first place Crown Legacy FC in its next home match on April 25. 

Up Next 

Before a North Carolina showdown between Carolina Core FC and Crown Legacy FC, the Foxes have back-to-back away days in April. The first comes against Philadelphia Union II on April 12, who finished second in the conference last season. The last time the two sides faced off, Carolina Core FC was able to win at home in a 3-2 thriller.  

After that, the Foxes travel to Florida to take on familiar foe Orlando City B on April 19. The two sides met three times in the 2025 season and split the results evenly (one win, one draw, one loss for Carolina Core FC). Two wins from its upcoming away fixtures would be enough to, as the table stands now, launch CCFC up to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.