Greenville, SC – The Greenville Triumph will face MLS side D.C. United in the first of four preseason matches this Saturday in a closed-door match at WakeMed Park in Cary, North Carolina with a 1:00 pm kickoff.
Saturday’s match against D.C. United will be the first match GTSC has played since lifting the League One Trophy last October. The two-year club displayed an impressive 15-week run at the top of the table earning 11 wins through 16 games.
With a target on their backs heading into the 2021 season, head coach John Harkes understands the need for his club to be tested early. “It’ll be a good challenge for the guys, and we want to play against good competition,” said Harkes. “It’s great competition, but it’s also a chance for us to figure out who we are, how we match up against a club like that this early in the preseason.”
Not only will Saturday’s match be a quality first test for the freshly-crowned champions, but it will also be the first time Harkes has coached against the club he helped to establish. He was D.C. United’s first-ever captain during the inaugural 1996 MLS season and led the club to three MLS championships and two titles in three seasons.
“I’ve had great memories there. I’m very grateful what that club gave to me and many players in the MLS. It’ll be fun but difficult to see us playing against black and red.”
Greenville returns 14 players from the 2020 championship-winning side and a handful of new signings including seasoned attacker Don Smart, previously of Forward Madison, as well as Dutch international and former USL Championship striker Marios Lomis. For more information on the Triumph’s preseason schedule, click here.
The Triumph’s 2021 home opener is now set, with the defending champions welcoming 2019 League One Champions North Texas SC on May 1. Single-match tickets will go on sale soon following the release of the full schedule. Tickets for the May 1 home opener can also be secured by purchasing the Champions Ticket Package, which includes 2020 Champions hats and Triumph scarves.
