Triumph Earns Massive 3-2 Win over AC Boise
- Forrest Wimberly
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 3
Meek Bicycle Kick and Liadi Game-Winner Highlight USL One Win
The Greenville Triumph picked up a massive 3-2 home win Wednesday night over visiting AC Boise in USL League One regular season play.
Greenville fell behind twice during the first half and both times answered with the game-tying goal just a few minutes later. One of the goals was the Triumph Goal of the Year as Luke Meek converted a bicycle kick in the 13th minute to stun the Boise defense and send the GE Vernova home fans into a frenzy. Azaad Liadi scored the game-winning goal in the 61st minute to grab all three points for the Triumph.
AC Boise jumped out to an early lead in the 5th minute as Jesus Barea slotted a ball low into the left corner of the net to put the visitors ahead in their first real look at goal. The play started all the way on the right touch line as the ball appeared to go out of play causing both teams to momentarily pause as the Boise dribbler Denys Kostyshyn kept on dribbling to driving to the top of the Greenville penalty box. A deft flick off the outside of the left boot opened the Greenville defense as the center back slipped and the ball rolled right into the feet of Barea for the sweeping one-time finish.
Greenville leveled the match in spectacular fashion as Lucas Meek got on his bike and converted what surely will be the Triumph goal of the year in the 13th minute. The ball pinballed around the Boise area after a Triumph corner kick as numerous headers and clearances looked like a volleyball match instead of a soccer match in this wild sequence of play. Meek watched the wild sequence happen and drifted free at the back post near the penalty spot. As the ball looped toward Meek, he measured the ball and then biked the ball over three Boise defenders and the Boise keeper for the wondergoal.
AC Boise wasted little time in responding to the Triumph goal by retaking the lead in the 15th minute when Denys Kostyshyn was played into the deep left corner of the Greenville penalty box. Kostyshyn unleashed a thunderous left footed shot with his first touch that clanged off the near post upper 90 and into the goal to restore Boise’s lead.
In the 25th minute, Greenville’s Connor Evans scored to knot things at 2-2 in a frantic opening half hour of soccer in the Upstate. Some high pressure defending from Greenville’s Muba Nour won the ball off a Boise defender at the top of the box and a quick square ball teed up Evans. Evans collected the ball, set his feet, and ripped the ball low into the left corner of the net for the goal.
The match would tighten up after the early goals barrage as both teams went to the break 2-2.
Greenville found the next goal, what would prove to be the game winner, in the 61st minute as Azaad Liadi drove across the top of the area on the dribble before ripping a low shot back against the grain that skimmed off the turf and past the diving AC Boise keeper. Greenville 3-2 Boise.
Both teams traded attacks over the final half hour of play with some routine keeper saves, but the scoring was complete as Greenville picked up a massive win over fifth place Boise to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“On that corner kick set piece, we are always taught to just stay in and around the box, keep your feet moving, be ready for something” said Lucas Meek about the goal. “I saw it pop up in the air, and it felt like Christmas morning…I just had to go for it. I’m super pumped to see it come off like that. The moment was surreal. In the video and pictures, you can see I was completely shocked myself. It was an awesome moment to have all the fans around; all my teammates get so pumped for me. It means a lot for this team and this win.”
Greenville remains in fourteenth place in USL League One on 17 points (5W-9L-2T) while Boise slips a spot into sixth place (9W-7L-3T) with the result. The Triumph remains eleven points below the playoff line.
Greenville will host Portland Hearts of Pine on Saturday, August 1 while AC Boise returns home to host Corpus Christi on August 1.
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