Greenville, SC – The Greenville Triumph Soccer Club looks to clinch a playoff berth when they host the Charlotte Independence in the club’s regular season home finale this Saturday, October 8th, at Legacy Early College, presented by Bridge City Coffee. The match has been designated as Fan Appreciation Night, featuring contests, giveaways, and lucky winners as Triumph SC celebrates its supporters and fans.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET, Triumph Stadium @ LEC, Greenville, SC
Streaming TV: ESPN+
International Stream: YouTube
Social Media: Greenville Triumph SC on Twitter
App: Download the Triumph app for free on Apple or Android
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The Greenville Triumph Soccer Club will look to snap a six-match winless streak this weekend in a crucial matchup against the Charlotte Independence. Though Triumph SC sits in second place, the club has failed to capitalize on chances to clinch the playoffs as the season winds down. With only two matches remaining, Greenville is running out of opportunities to collect the points required to secure one of the top-two playoff seeds and a coveted first-round bye.
Greenville’s opponents will be highly motivated as well, as the Independence currently hold the last playoff spot by way of a total wins tiebreaker over Northern Colorado. With eight teams still in contention for six playoff spots, Charlotte needs at least three points across the final two matches to guarantee a berth.
The Triumph defense will need to focus on a Charlotte attack that boasts the only pair of double-digit goal scorers in the league this season, Khori Bennett and Tresor Mbuyu. Mbuyu provided the lone goal for the Independence last week against Chattanooga to tally his tenth of the season. At the other end of the field, the Triumph attack will look for cracks in an Independence defense that has conceded the second-most goals in the League, though they’ve only allowed multiple goals in one of their last five matches.
Greenville will again have to navigate injuries that have plagued the club much of the season, though the club expects winger Jesus Ibarra to return and add some pace to the Triumph attack this weekend. Greenville has proved anyone on the pitch can score for the club, as its last six goals have come from six different players, including both central defenders. Recent first-time goal-scorer Evan Lee is in line to join Aaron Walker as the second Triumph player to reach 100 appearances for the club if he sees the field on Saturday.
NEWS AND NOTES
Injury Report: Ben Hale (GK): leg- questionable, Noah Pilato (M): ankle- out, Jimmy Filerman (D): leg- out, Tyler Polak (D): knee- doubtful, Noah Franke (D): hamstring- out, Evan Lee (D): hamstring- questionable
