Rocket goal by Jamie Smith completes comeback for Greenville against rival
Greenville, SC (May 11, 2024) – The Greenville Triumph SC defeated South Georgia Tormenta FC 3-2 in the second round of the USL Jägermeister Cup at Paladin Stadium on Saturday. Two goals from Triumph defender Jamie Smith in the second half, including a long-distance strike in the last ten minutes propelled Greenville past its neighboring rival.
From the onset, Tormenta came out swinging, with an early shot from their forward testing the Greenville defense, only to be denied. It was Greenville who struck first in the 16th minute, as Lyam MacKinnon, the club’s leading scorer, bent a precise shot past the Tormenta keeper into the bottom right corner, capitalizing on a cross from Chapa Herrera. The South Georgia side swiftly retaliated, finding their stride and breaking through Greenville’s defense twice before halftime. With goals in the 33rd and 40th minute, they seized control of the match heading into the break, 2-1.
The second half saw Greenville push hard to stage a comeback. Center back, Jamie Smith came close with a free kick in the 51st minute, but was unable to lift it over a Tormenta wall. However, fortune favored Greenville in the 67th minute when MacKinnon was brought down in the box, earning his team a penalty kick. Smith stepped up to the challenge and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, leveling the score line, 2-2.
As the clock ticked down, both teams battled fiercely for the winning goal. Greenville’s persistence paid off in the 86th minute when Jamie Smith unleashed a stunning shot from 30 yards out after a save from Tormenta’s Ford Parker, leaving the keeper rooted to his spot and sending the Greenville fans into raptures. The Triumph held the lead in stoppage time to collect three points and earn its first USL Jägermeister cup victory, with a 3-2 score line.
“We just lost our way of it at the end of the first half, but at halftime we made a few adjustments,” said Jamie Smith. “The main one was to come out with a bit more energy and I think the crowd helped us with that as well. It was a great team win.”
Greenville will take on Richmond Kickers next Saturday at 7:00 pm in Virginia and return home on Sunday, June 2nd, for a rare afternoon match. Tickets are on sale now.
Rick Wright, head coach, on the comeback: “I guess the soccer gods do come back and help people that put in a good shift. We lost last week, 92nd minute to Madison and we had a good first half tonight. We kind of let off the gas a little bit after our first goal, but went in the dressing room and really had a very good heart-to-heart with all the guys They came back and showed out, and Jamie Smith was unbelievable.”
Lyam MacKinnon, forward, on scoring another goal from the top corner of the box: “I just try to move off the other guys from that spot. If the defender gives me the inside, I try to cut in and get a shot off and if he cuts the inside, I try to go across and I did both today. I try to mix it up and I practice it a lot in training. Rick tries to get me off the field sometimes but I’m going to keep working on it and hopefully getting more chances like that in a match.”
