If it weren’t for bad luck, Carolina wouldn’t have had any luck on Wednesday against Cruz Azul.

Cruz Azul scored two goals that found the net after deflecting off RailHawks defenders, and Carolina had one goal taken out of the net and a penalty kick overturned. That led to a 2-0 loss for the RailHawks in the exhibition against the Mexican La Primera División giants before a standing-room only crowd of 8,505 at SAS Soccer Park.

“Cruz Azul is one of the best club teams in the world,” said Carolina midfielder Kupono Low. “We had two goals taken away; they scored on two deflections. Luck isn’t going our way. You really can’t expect much more when you’re playing against a team of that caliber. Soccer’s a funny game.”

Carolina played a strong 90 minutes against the eight-time Primera División champions. The RailHawks outshot Cruz Azul 12-4. Outside of the two goals, none posed a threat to the Carolina goal.

The RailHawks found themselves in the precarious situation of playing the role of visitor in their home stadium. The overwhelming majority of the crowd was there to the team from Mexico City.

Nevertheless, Carolina coach Scott Schweitzer was pleased with everything about the evening, except the end result.

“They got two goals that were deflections,” Schweitzer said. “Our boys played good. It’s tough to be on your home field and not be the home team. It was a great atmosphere. For our fans that did come, they know how good we are.”

Cruz Azul’s Cesar Villaluz scored the game’s first goal in the 13th minute. His shot from about 25 yards deflected off a Carolina defender and into the goal. Goalkeeper Chris McClellan had no chance to make a play.

In the 31st minute, Cruz Azul goalkeeper Yosgart Gutierrez punched away a Jonny Steele corner kick right to Anthony Maher. Maher turned and put the ball into the far corner of the goal, but it was waved off. Away from the ball, forward McColm Cephas was called for a foul.

“We were in an 18-yard box battle like we always are,” said Maher, who has had four goals taken out of the net this season, “The ball fell at my feet. I put it in the corner and started celebrating. I was like, there’s no way anything went wrong on that play. The smallest guy on the field, he’s called for pushing somebody. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the game.”

In the 56th minute, Low was pulled down in the box. Referee Andrew Chapin pointed to the penalty spot, but he was called over to the sideline where one of his linesmen had waved his flag. The PK was taken away, because Maher, who headed the ball on to Low, was ruled offside.

Cruz Azul padded its lead to 2-0 in the 86th minute. Adrián Cortés, who checked in the 85th minute, ripped a 25-yard volley through traffic. Like Villaluz’s earlier goal, Cortés’ shot ricocheted off a defender and away from goalkeeper John O’Hara, who came on as a halftime substitute.

“We carried the game for 90 minutes, once again,” Schweitzer said. “That’s one of the best teams in the world. They just beat Boca Juniors – I think we all now how good Boca Juniors is – they beat Boca Juniors 3-1 and it could’ve been six. … They were very professional. They did what they needed to do to win the game. That’s something we need to learn, that’s for sure.”

The RailHawks turn their attention back to USL First Division play this weekend. They’ll take on Miami Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at SAS Soccer Park. Carolina (4-4-7, 19 points) sits in 10th place in the USL-1 table, five points out of the eighth place with 10 matches to play.

The RailHawks are 0-4-2 in USL-1 play since July 3 and they’ve been shut out in their last two matches at SAS Soccer Park. As has been the case all season, Schweitzer believes getting a few goals will turn his team’s fortunes around.

“We’ve just got to score,” Schweitzer said. “Once we get a game where we get more than two, it’s over. Once we figure that out, it’s going to be over. And it’s going to happen.”