HUNTSVILLE – The script was all too familiar to the Huntsville City Football Club – play to a draw in regulation and then lose the penalty kick shootout. 

The game marked the fourth draw of 2024 and fourth shootout loss for the Boys in Blue.

In front of a Friday night crowd of 4,211 at Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville City and Carolina Core FC played to a 1-all draw in an MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Division match. 

But Huntsville, which entered the week trailing Carolina by two points at the bottom of the division, failed to gain ground by falling 6-5 in the PK shootout worth an extra point. 

After saying the team’s performance was poor over the first 30 minutes, Huntsville interim coach Christophe Berra said  “we really should be coming out with three points” for a win once they went up 1-0 in the 78th minute. 

Before Friday’s match, Huntsville announced it had transferred midfielder Isaiah Johnston to Loudoun United FC of the USL Championship in exchange for an undisclosed fee. Johnston was Huntsville City FC’s first signing.

Huntsville (2-9-4-0, 10 points) grabbed the lead in the 78th minute when Adem Sipić’s run led to a cross to Jordan Knight, who finished off the chance for his first goal with the team.

Watch Knight’s goal here.

Carolina (2-7-4-3, 13 points) would equalize in the 85th minute through Josuha Rodriguez, and the match finished level.

Then, once more this season, Huntsville lost in a PK shootout that can be something of a coin flip strategically.

“It’s a lottery, but we’ve not won one this season, so it kind of puts a damper if you come out without one (win),” Berra said, adding the team simply sends out its most competent scorers. But, he continued, “You can practice it ‘till the sun goes down’ each day but can’t replicate a game atmosphere.

“You’ve got to give credit to keeper as well.”

The Boys in Blue will observe its second bye week of the season next week before returning to action July 10 at 10 a.m. CT at New England Revolution II.

Notes:          

• Huntsville City FC
  Unbeaten in two matches against Carolina Core FC this season (1W-0L-1D, 0SOW).
  Earned its first draw since April 13 vs. Crown Legacy FC
• Jony Bolaños
  Served as team captain for the tenth-straight match.
  Has started every match this season 
• Nick DePuy
  Made his Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium debut
• Jordan Knight
  Scored his first goal of the season.
  Made his Huntsville City FC home debut
• Adem Sipić
  Recorded his first assist of the season