Montverde, FL – It took almost 13 matches, but Triumph players, coaches and fans were finally able to rest easy as the club went up 2-0 late over Orlando City Bat Monteverde Academy to give them their first road win and their first match decided by more than a one goal margin.
The match started slowly, with both sides trading possession early without much attacking. A Chris Bermudez miss off the post was the best chance for Greenville until the 41st minute, when a flurry of passes and attempts in the box ended with Triumph forward and birthday boy Cameron Saul burying his first professional goal. Saul’s score gave the Triumph their first halftime lead of the season and helped run Orlando’s goals allowed to 25, the most in the league.
A narrow miss in the 62nd minute by Chris Bermudez on a curling left-footed cross that glanced off the post almost gave Greenville an elusive 2-goal lead. The Triumph sealed the match in the 83rd minute with another Greenville player scoring their first goal, as midfielder Carlos Gomez buried a shot over the OCB keeper to clinch the first road win and a crucial 3 points for the Triumph.
“It was a big moment for our growth to to be able to put a team away, especially on the road,” said head coach John Harkes. “We wanted to build on the multi-goal effort last week and improve on our tactical shape. We did that well tonight and it created some opportunities for some different guys to find the back of the net. I was very pleased at how the guys took what we worked on during the week and translated that to the field. It was a great three points that we hope to build on next Sunday against North Texas.”
The Triumph (4-5-4) conclude their 3-match road trip Sunday, July 6 against North Texas SC at 8:45 pm (9:45 pm EST). The match can be viewed on ESPN+. They return to Greenville Saturday, July 13th, to take on Orlando City B at 7:00 pm at Legacy Early College Field. The Pregame Fan Fest begins at 5:00 pm, gates open at 6:00 pm and kickoff is at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
STATS
Shots:
Greenville – 12, OCB – 4
Possession:
Greenville: 42.4%
OCB: 57.6%
Corners:
Greenville – 4, OCB – 3
Scoring Summary:
GVL: Saul – 41′, Gomez – 83′
Misconduct Summary:
OCB: Serginho (caution) – 31’, Diouf (caution) – 72′
GVL: Polak (caution) – 18′, Mohamed (caution) – 67′
Ejection Summary:
N/A
