MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (Interstat) — North Carolina FC opened its 2026 campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over in-state rival Charleston Battery in a Club Friendlies match Wednesday afternoon at Patriots Point.

The visitors, utilizing a deep bench that provided all three goals, overturned pregame projections that heavily favored the home side. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-2 draw, and its ELO rating system gave Charleston Battery a 60.1 percent probability to win. North Carolina FC rendered those forecasts moot with a efficient and physical display.

The match ignited immediately, with North Carolina FC substitute Milan Zonneveld stunning the home crowd just 60 seconds after kickoff. Zonneveld, who entered the game early, found the net to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

Charleston Battery struggled to find a response in the first half, and the physical intensity of the match began to show before the break. North Carolina FC defender Amoah Foah-Sam received a yellow card in the 41st minute, followed just three minutes later by a booking for his teammate, substitute Danny Bakker.

Any momentum Charleston hoped to build after halftime was quickly extinguished. In the 48th minute, another North Carolina FC substitute, Patrick Brouwer, doubled the advantage to make it 2-0.

The visitors put the result beyond doubt in the 62nd minute. Bakker, already carrying a yellow, turned provider, assisting on a goal by Guus Offerhaus. The goal, scored by yet another second-half substitute, extended the lead to 3-0 and showcased North Carolina FC’s superior depth on the night.

Charleston Battery managed to avoid a shutout in the 85th minute. Forward Byron Burgering scored, assisted by substitute Kay Tejan, to pull one back for the hosts. However, the consolation goal did little to change the match’s complexion. Tejan was shown a yellow card in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, a final note in a contest that saw North Carolina FC commit three fouls worthy of cautions.

The result gives North Carolina FC a winning start to its season in this competition, moving its record to 1 win and 0 losses. Across all competitions, the club is also 1-0-0. For Charleston Battery, the loss marks an 0-1-0 beginning both in the Club Friendlies and overall.

The decisive factor was North Carolina FC’s effective use of its roster, with substitutes accounting for all three goals and one assist. The early strike from Zonneveld set the tone, allowing North Carolina FC to control the pace and ultimately secure a convincing road victory against a favored opponent to open the new year.