Men's Soccer Edges #3 Clemson On Last-Second Goal By Zattarin

Friday, October 9

Chapel Hill

6 PM

North Carolina

2-0-0, 2-0-0

Clemson

2-1-0, 0-1-0

Clemson

North Carolina

Fillipo Zattarin

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

October 9, 2020 | Men's Soccer

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CHAPEL HILL—Fillipo Zattarin scored on a header with just 0:01 remaining in the second half to lift North Carolina to a 1-0 win over No. 3 Clemson on Friday night at Dorrance Field.

Zattarin's game-winner came on a set play that began with 0:05 to play after a Clemson foul 10 yards outside of the box on the left side. Carolina's Milo Garvanian sent the free kick into a scrum inside the box, where freshman Akeim Clarke redirected the ball high up into the air.

Zattarin then got a running start and headed the ball into the upper right corner of the net just before the buzzer sounded. Video review showed the goal came with 0:01 remaining in regulation.

"I usually don't go up to jump for set pieces, because I'm not that tall," Zattarin said after the game. "But because of how little time was left I decided to go. I knew I had to jump before everyone else, so that's what I did. Luckily, the goal went in with zero seconds to go, so that was great."

With the win, Carolina improved to 2-0 this season, 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Clemson, ranked third in this week's United Soccer Coaches poll, dropped to 2-1, 0-1.

"I think we were a little tight [early in the game]," UNC head coach Carlos Somoano said. "Sitting out for eight months and getting in our first couple of games ... there's a little bit of rust, a little bit of nerves and a lot of excitement. We tried to get the guys to settle down and concentrate on what we were supposed to be doing from the get-go."

The game was back-and-forth throughout, with Carolina holding an 11-10 edge in shots and a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks. Alec Smir (2-0) made two saves for the Tar Heels, while George Marks (1-1) also saved two for Clemson.

The game marked the first time the Tigers had been held scoreless in over a year, since a scoreless tie against Virginia Tech on Oct. 5, 2019.

Carolina will return to action on Sunday Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. at Wake Forest.