RICHMOND, VA – After six matches and 433 scoreless minutes, Greenville Triumph’s unbeaten streak was ended Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium after conceded a goal to New England Revolution II in the 57th minute. It was not the most impressive performance for the league-leaders, but aside from the perhaps the mental deflate, the loss to NEII isn’t season-impacting.
The most important thing for Greenville moving forward is the response to Wednesday’s loss. As head coach John Harkes said, “We know there are challenges, and that we won’t be at our best individually or collectively each time we step on the field, but what we can control is how we respond.” The Triumph look to respond in tonight with their second game on the road in just four days.
Besides it being a top-two matchup, tonight’s match also marks the decision game for this year’s Bon Secours Cup, a regional rivalry built in USL League One between both organizations who share proud partnerships with Bon Secours as the Official Healthcare Services Provider. Greenville leads the 2020 Cup race 1-0 after the 3-2 victory at Legacy Early College on July 25th.
How To Follow
Kick off: 6:30 PM EST
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Scouting Richmond
Richmond picked up its third straight victory last Friday night with a 2-1 victory at NEII. In the 54th minute Emiliano Terzaghi continued his goal-scoring form netting his fourth goal in five matches. The Revs II tied the match shortly afterwards in the 71st minute only to give up a game-winner in the 82nd minute when Richmond’s Ryley Kraft slid in for a back post finish off the cross from Ian Antley.
Richmond boasts some impressive speed on the flanks which Greenville has seen first hand. Back in July, when these two teams first met and played to a 3-2 score, Matt Buldoc evened the game at one a piece and handed Greenville its first goal against in blazing fashion. Transition and pressure on the ball have been critical points for the Greenville side, and Richmond can be quite dangerous on the counter.
Of Greenville’s three goals against, two of those are credited to Richmond. After an entire month since the two teams met, the Kickers are coming into the match with much more confidence. They haven’t lost in three weeks and they’ve worked their way into a second-place spot at the table with a dynamic pairing emerging between Ian Antley (5 assists) and Emiliano Terzaghi (4 goals, 3rd in the Golden Boot Race).
what to watch for
Mentality: Greenville took a tough defeat Wednesday night. More than anything, they beat themselves — giving the ball away uncharacteristically, not capitalizing on dangerous service, allowing the game to stretch. But that happens, and the good news is, the nearest team to Greenville is still two games back. What’s most important now is how Harkes’s side utilizes that loss. Does it turn into a downward spiral or does it serve as a wake up call for the league-leaders that any team in this league is capable of beating them? If the response is of the latter, then NEII might have just revved up this Greenville team to a whole new gear.
Transition, Pressure: Of the three goals we’ve seen Greenville give up, two of them have come in transitional moments paired with a lack of pressure in the midfield. When Greenville’s midfield five, if playing in a 4-2-3-1, defend as a collective unit and keep pressure on the ball, it becomes very difficult for opposing teams to break them down. It’s the times of transitional moments when Greenville’s fullbacks are involved in the attack, and there’s not pressure on the ball, that Greenville is vulnerable to the counter.
Bon Secours Cup: This match will decide the 2020 edition of the Bon Secours Cup. Last year, Richmond won the bragging rights but Greenville leads this season 1-0. The Bon Secours Cup champs are determined by the traditional soccer point system – three points for a win, one point for a draw, zero points for a loss. In the event the clubs end up tied on points, which will happen if Richmond wins the match tonight, standard FIFA tie-breakers will be utilized to determine the cup winner.
MATCH WEEKEND DEALS
Southern Culture Hospitality Group: Head to Habitap to watch Triumph matches on their big screen get half off your first beer by wearing your Triumph gear! Getting take-out? LTO Burger Bar is offering a match day curbside pick-up discount…get 10% off with online code “Triumph”.
Item of the Week: All green and white Triumph jerseys are currently 30% off. Click here to shop!
Clean Sheet. Clean Car: If the Triumph earn a clean sheet (meaning no goals allowed), you can get $3 off a Top Wash the day after at Fins Car Wash, no promo code required.
Tailgate Package: Download the Chick-fil-A app to earn special rewards the Monday after each match. Simply order food from the Pelham Road location, and put Together We Triumph in the special instructions box.
