The visiting Greenville Triumph SC converted a first-half, stoppage-time free kick to advance 1-0 over the South Carolina United Bantams in their 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup First Round clash in Columbia.
This all-South Carolina Cup match was very physical from the opening whistle and saw seven yellow cards, one mass confrontation just before the half, and plenty of banter between the two sides. For two teams without any history of playing matches … they sure didn’t seem to like each other (36 total fouls).
The Triumph controlled most of the possession throughout the match (68% overall) and the Bantams were content to absorb the pressure and then look to spring forward on the counter. The match was mostly contested box-to-box with both teams unable to find a way to break down their opponent’s backline to threaten the goal inside the box. The Bantams played with five across the back dropping their wingbacks deep to force the Triumph into long-range shots and hopeful services into the box that the Bantams’ keeper Andreas Kokoska collected on every occasion.
Just when it looked like the match was headed to the break scoreless, the Triumph converted a free kick from the left flank to push ahead 1-0 in first-half stoppage time. Lyam MacKinnon whipped in a driven, bending service that Leo Castro nodded down at the far post to bounce the ball past the diving Bantams’ keeper.
1-0 @GVLTriumph at the half off this 45 minute free kick. Lots of physical play in this @opencup first round match here in Columbia. @usopencup pic.twitter.com/vefMBuxO2x
— TheSoccerForrest (@soccer_forrest) March 21, 2024
The second half returned to the midfield stalemate with both teams again unable to find a clear pathway into their opponent’s penalty box. The game almost took a major turn in the 84th minute as a Bantams’ forward collected a stray ball the Triumph defense and charged in 1-v-1 on the Triumph keeper. Gunther Rankenburg stayed big, stayed on his feet as long as possible, and out-dueled the charging Bantams’ forward to make a spectacular kick save to preserve the score line at 1-0.
“The guys put in a really, really solid professional effort tonight,” said Triumph head coach Rick Wright. “It was a very difficult surface to play on, but we adapted and played really well. I’m real proud of the guys, they rose to the occasion.”
All credit should go to the Bantams’ coaching staff and front office for putting together such a strong team with such little time to prepare. The team had just assembled a few days prior to the match and this collection of players were expertly cobbled together into a very cohesive and effective group by head coach Lee Morris and staff. The Bantams knew who they are, understood the assignment, and were just one free kick away from extra time, possibly penalties, and who knows what’s next. But in the end, the Bantams remain without an Open Cup win in three attempts.
The Triumph closed out the match and advance 1-0 into the second round in two weeks.
