Fort Wayne Posts 3-1 Win Over Greenville
Triumph comes up short in first game of the Tyson era
The Greenville Triumph made a coaching change earlier in the week and created their chances versus Fort Wayne FC but came up short at the final whistle falling 3-1 in USL League One action in the Upstate.
Joel Tyson was named interim Head Coach with the departure of Dave Dixon earlier last week and the club looked to get a spark down the final stretch of games in one last desperate attempt to push the Triumph into the playoff conversation. Fort Wayne FC struck for an early goal before a free kick from Azaad Liadi found Brandon Fricke to level the match later in the first half. Fort Wayne then grabbed a goal against the run of play just before the half, endured a lengthy weather delay, and then put the game out of reach on a corner kick in the rain to seal the 3-1 result.
Fort Wayne FC struck for the opening goal in the 4th minute as a slow build up circulated the ball from the right to the left across the Triumph box. A late-arriving runner from the midfield was played in all alone at the back post for the one-time cross attempt. The ball took a cruel deflection off a recovering Triumph defender to wrong foot Amal Knight in the Triumph net as the ball slipped into the nets for the early Fort Wayne advantage.
Greenville scored the equalizer in the 34th minute as Azaad Liadi served a driven free kick from the left flank into Brandon Fricke who applied the slightest of touches with his head to guide the ball into the back post to level things 1-1.
Fort Wayne FC reclaimed the lead in the 42nd minute as they built the ball up the right flank and then delivered a square ball across the area that Ryan Becher was able to side foot low past the scrambling Knight for the 2-1 Fort Wayne lead. Greenville mounted a furious attack over the next few minutes including stoppage time to earn several corner kicks and chances but just could not find the final touch to score the game-tying goal.
During the halftime break storms rolled into the area forcing the fans to exit the stadium as a 40-minute delay paused the soccer action. Greenville emerged from the break and immediately threatened the Fort Wayne net as Muba Nour forced a diving save in the 48th minute but didn’t find the equalizer.
Fort Wayne’s Becher scored his brace in the 58th minute off a header as the rain poured down on the GE Vernova Park turf. Becher was first to a driven corner kick as he guided the ball up and over the crowded goal box and into the back post side netting. 3-1 Fort Wayne.
Greenville earned a penalty kick in the 64th minute as Fort Wayne tripped a Triumph dribbler inside the area but failed to convert the chance as the penalty kick sailed wide right of the post to keep things 3-1 in Fort Wayne’s favor. A few Greenville chances came close late in the match but there would be no comeback for the hosts on a soggy Saturday night in the Upstate.
“The team bounces back starting tomorrow with our mentality waking up to attack the next opportunity,” said Triumph Interim Head Coach Joel Tyson.
Greenville is back on their home pitch on Wednesday, September 16 for an 11 AM kickoff as they host an Upstate schools STEM Day as Corpus Christi FC provides the opposition.
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