A record home crowd of over 4,000 fans was not enough to lift USL League One’s Greenville Triumph to a cupset victory over Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC in the Third Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
The capacity crowd, which featured a sizeable contingent of traveling Charlotte fans, were treated to a back-and-forth affair that ended after extra time sending the visitors home with a 2-1 victory. Charlotte FC’s Harrison Afful played the hero, scoring the game-winning goal in the 106th minute to give the expansion side a win in their US Open Cup debut.
The first half was a fairly balanced affair with each team finding plenty of chances to take the lead.
The deadlock was broken just before halftime when Charlotte’s Titi Ortiz defied the laws of physics by scoring with a ball that was nearly over the end line following a Paul Christensen save. That goal came in the 39th minute and sent the visitors into the locker room with a 1-0 halftime lead.
TiTi time ⏰ pic.twitter.com/oTy7yLdwvQ
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) April 20, 2022
Coming out of the break, Greenville coach John Harkes made one substitution but shifted the formation adding an additional striker up top. That move paid quick dividends as the Triumph created plenty of big chances early in the second half. They would eventually get one in the back of the net when Jake Keegan scored in the 59th minute. Keegan received a pass near the top of the box and then ripped a shot past the goalkeeper to tie the game.
Going into the first extra time period, Greenville once again looked to be on the front foot creating chances to take the lead. But much to the dismay of the home fans, Charlotte’s Harrison Afful would find that breakthrough goal in stoppage time of the first extra period. He approached the penalty area and played a one-two with Kamil Jóźwiaka, received the ball back and fired a shot past Christensen to give them the expansion side the lead in the 106th minute.
The second period saw Greenville throwing everything they had at the visitors, but tired legs on both sides, and a strong defensive block for Charlotte, saw the team from North Carolina hold onto the 2-1 victory.
TiTi time ⏰ pic.twitter.com/oTy7yLdwvQ
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) April 20, 2022
Charlotte advances to the Fourth Round where they will face the Richmond Kickers (USL-1) on May 11.
