HIGH POINT, N.C. (September 4, 2026) – New England Revolution II (11-8-7, 43 pts.) battled Carolina Core FC (5-12-9, 28 pts.) to a 2-2 draw before falling, 4-2, in the ensuing penalty shootout on Friday night at Truist Point Stadium. Carolina Core FC carried a 1-0 lead into the final 10 minutes of regulation, but forward Marcos Zambrano scored twice in a four-minute span to put New England in front, 2-1. However, the home side answered with a stoppage-time equalizer to force a shootout and ultimately secure the extra point.
The Carolina club nearly found the breakthrough goal in the 14th minute with a shot on target, but Academy graduate Max Weinstein, making his eighth start of the season, produced a quick full-extension save to parry the effort away and keep the match scoreless.
Revolution II answered with a dangerous chance of their own in the 28th minute. Homegrown midfielder Cristiano Oliveira drove along the edge of the box before using a sharp scissor move to create separation from his defender and deliver a cross into the area. Forward/winger Myles Morgan met the service with a first-time effort, but the attempt rattled off the crossbar. Oliveira continued to threaten in the attack, generating another chance just before halftime. The Somerville, Mass. native unleashed a driven left-footed shot on target, but the Carolina goalkeeper was there to collect the chance and send the sides into the break tied, 0-0.
The Foxes broke the deadlock in the 71st minute. Academy midfielder Logan Azar initially denied the danger by blocking a cross into the box, but the home side's second delivery found Bryce Swinehart, who steered his finish beyond the outstretched arms of Weinstein.
Facing a one-goal deficit, New England pushed its numbers forward in pursuit of an equalizer, and Head Coach Pablo Moreira injected fresh legs with the introductions of defender Jared Smith, forward/winger Shuma Sasaki, forward Matthew Jean Baptiste, and defender Aarin Prajapati.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Zambrano scored back-to-back goals to give New England a 2-1 lead. After drawing a foul just outside the penalty area in the 83rd minute, Zambrano stepped up and curled a free kick around the wall and into the right side of the net. Four minutes later, the United States youth international combined with midfielder Javaun Mussenden on a give-and-go sequence inside the box before spinning his defender and burying a right-footed shot inside the near post for his second goal of the night.
Zambrano made his second Revolution II appearance and start tonight and has now scored in as many matches. However, Carolina Core FC found a stoppage-time equalizer through Seth Hammond to send the contest to a penalty shootout, where the home side claimed the extra point with a 4-2 victory.
Revolution II remain on the road and travel to Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET at Historic Crew Stadium and streams on MLSNEXTPro.com and the OneFootball platform.
MATCH NOTES
- New England collected points in its ninth road match of the season and now owns a 5-3-4 record away from home. Following tonight's result, Revolution II remain firmly in the playoff race, sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with 43 points.
- F Marcos Zambrano recorded the third brace of his MLS NEXT Pro career tonight and has now scored in consecutive matches. The United States youth international, who led the team with two shots on target tonight, has tallied three goals across his two appearances with Revolution II.
- M Javaun Mussenden recorded his fourth assist of the season tonight. The Academy graduate made his 19th start and 20th appearance of the season, and tied fellow Academy product Judah Siqueira for the team lead with three key passes at Carolina Core.
- D Jared Smith returned to action for the first time since July 5 after recovering from a lower body injury. The Longmeadow, Mass., native logged 29 minutes along Revolution II's back line.
- GK Max Weinstein recorded his eighth start of the season, the 35th of his MLS NEXT Pro career, and made two saves.
- Nine Academy products featured in tonight's match: Weinstein, Siqueira, Mussenden, D Damario McIntosh, F/W Makai Wells, M Logan Azar, D Aarin Prajapati, M Cristiano Oliveira, and F Matthew Jean Baptiste.
GAME CAPSULE
Revolution II Match #26
New England Revolution II 2(2) at Carolina Core FC 2(4)
September 4, 2026 – Truist Point Stadium (High Point, N.C.)
Referee: Stefan Perri
Assistant Referee: Jackson Krauser
Assistant Referee: Brendan Lucas
Fourth Official: Marcus Moss
Weather: 83 degrees and cloudy
Scoring Summary:
CCFC - Bryce Swinehart (Thomas Raimbault) 71'
NE - Marcos Zambrano 2 (Unassisted) 83'
NE - Marcos Zambrano 3 (Javaun Mussenden 4) 87'
CCFC - Seth Hammond (Charles Orbaugh) 90'+2
Misconduct Summary:
NE - Cristiano Oliveira (Yellow Card) 39'
CCFC - Thomas Raimbault (Yellow Card) 66'
CCFC - Bryce Swinehart (Yellow Card) 75'
CCFC - Ryan Baer (Yellow Card) 78'
NE - Shuma Sasaki (Yellow Card) 90'+6
New England Revolution II: Max Weinstein; Gabe Dahlin (C), Jake Shannon, Damario McIntosh (Jared Smith 61'); Makai Wells (Shuma Sasaki 71'), Logan Azar (Aarin Prajapati 78'), Judah Siqueira, Javaun Mussenden, Cristiano Oliveira (Matthew Jean Baptiste 78'); Myles Morgan, Marcos Zambrano
Substitutes Not Used: Zach LaPierre, Levi Katsell, Schinieder Mimy, Chris Mbai-Assem
Carolina Core FC: Nolan Anderson; Bryce Swinehart (Charles Orbaugh 75'), Ricks Ford (Corey Lundeen 46'), Rashid Tetteh (Nolan Evers 67'); Seth Hammond, Ryan Baer (C), Ricardo Montenegro, Graham Ford, Andrew Czech (Thomas Raimbault 63'); Nicholas Kaloukian, Arnaud Tattevin (David Diaz 46')
Substitutes Not Used: Trevor Jackson, Khalid Balogun, Tristan Weber, Valentino Ontiveros
