No. 17 North Carolina kept its season moving with a dramatic 3-2 win over No. 3 Clemson in two overtimes, punching its ticket to the ACC Championship semifinals on a 106th-minute penalty from Luca Nikolai.
The Tar Heels had to survive a wild swing in momentum to do it. UNC built a 2-0 lead in the first half, watched Clemson claw all the way back, and then found the decisive moment just four minutes before full time when Nikolai stepped in front of a Clemson defender and was brought down. He calmly buried his fifth penalty of the season to settle it.
UNC improved to 9-2-6 and stretched its unbeaten run to 10 matches, with seven wins in that span. Clemson, meanwhile, saw its 11-match unbeaten streak end and dropped to 13-3-2.
North Carolina struck first in the 20th minute. On the Tar Heels’ third straight corner, a Clemson clearance fell to Nico Loebus, who headed it home for a 1-0 lead. Nine minutes later, Joschi Schelb lifted a ball over the Clemson back line and Bertil Rygaard Hansen brought it down with a clean touch before slipping it through the keeper’s legs to make it 2-0.
Clemson flipped the script after halftime. Martin Bakken cut the deficit in the 52nd minute, and Ransford Gyan brought the Tigers level in the 70th. From there, both teams had chances, but neither could find the winner in regulation.
The overtime periods brought more pressure but no breakthrough until the final minute of the second extra session, when Nikolai delivered the finish that sent Carolina through.
The match opened with early warning signs for both sides. In the 4th minute, Rygaard Hansen cleaned up a corner and sent a floater into the box that forced Clemson’s keeper to tip it away. Clemson answered in the 14th minute when Gyan ripped a shot from distance that hit the post.
UNC had another dangerous moment in the 26th minute when Gyan sent in a dangerous cross, but Alan Rutkowski got there first, punched it clear, and then was fouled. Later, in the 64th minute, Ryan Zellefrow slipped Schelb in behind the defense, and Schelb tested the keeper with his left foot to earn a corner.
Clemson kept pushing late. In the 82nd minute, Gyan crossed to Duncan Wilson, who chested the chance over the bar. Then in the 100th minute, Schelb broke free in the box, but his left-footed effort missed wide.
Nico Loebus’ goal was his second of the season and third of his career. Rygaard Hansen’s goal was his second of the season and eighth of his career.
Nikolai’s winner was his fifth of the season and 13th of his career. Schelb’s assist was his third of the season and 22nd of his career.
North Carolina will face the winner of Wake Forest and NC State on Thursday at Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park. The match will be played at either 5:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. and will air on ACC Network.
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Tar Heels Face A Quick Gut Check With Duke Suddenly Next
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The timing makes the loss sting a little more, because the schedule does not offer much breathing room. Duke is next, and the Tar Heels will see the Blue Devils twice, on Nov. 12 and Nov. 15, turning this into a quick gut check for a Carolina team that has to reset fast and carry something useful out of a tough night. [Read more 🡒]
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Blacks chance came after a teammate was ruled out because of illness, but the bigger takeaway for Tar Heels fans is how well he handled the moment. A player long valued for his defense and versatility is now giving Sacramento a stronger reason to keep him in the rotation, and if this is the start of a larger role, it could be a development worth watching closely from Chapel Hill. [Read more 🡒]
UNC May Have Found A Frontcourt Option Wyoming Has To Worry About
North Carolinas lopsided win over Wofford offered a useful glimpse of a bench piece that could become more than a situational option. Alexandros Samodurov gave the Tar Heels a strong lift with 13 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes, showing enough touch and versatility on offense to stand out in a game where the reserves helped tilt the night early.
The bigger question now is how much more Carolina can ask of him, especially with Wyoming on deck. Samodurovs skill set is intriguing, but there are still real questions about whether he can hold up at center against more physical play, which makes his usage worth watching as the schedule tightens and the staff looks for answers in the frontcourt. [Read more 🡒]