Greenville battles back but falls at GE Vernova Park on SOMOS Night
Greenville, S.C. (September 12, 2026) – Greenville Triumph SC fell 3-1 to Fort Wayne FC on Saturday night at GE Vernova Park as the Triumph celebrated SOMOS Night, honoring the Upstate’s Hispanic and Latino cultures with support from Truliant, Green Arc Properties, and Brian T. Law Firm.
Fort Wayne opened the scoring in the fourth minute, putting Greenville behind early.
The Triumph responded in the 33rd minute to level the match. A free kick from Azaad Liadi found Brandon Fricke inside the box, with the defender rising to head the ball into the back of the net and make it 1-1.
“It’s always great to contribute with a goal,” said Fricke. “This one was important to get us back into the game and give us a chance to push on.”
Fort Wayne regained the lead in the 43rd minute, sending Greenville into halftime trailing 2-1.
The second half began with a severe weather delay before play resumed in the rain. During the delay, Interim Head Coach Joel Tyson emphasized the importance of staying compact defensively and being patient when Fort Wayne’s center backs had possession.
“The message to the team during the delay was to be focused on getting compact when we didn’t have the ball and to be a little more patient when their center backs have the ball,” said Tyson. “We saw some pictures that showed success in the first half, and to continue working to recreate those.”
Greenville nearly found an equalizer early in the second half when Muba Nour came close in the 48th minute, narrowly missing his attempt.
Fort Wayne extended its lead in the 58th minute after a corner kick resulted in the visitors’ third goal of the night.
In the 77th minute, Toby Sims returned to the pitch after being sidelined with an injury, marking his return to action for the first time during the 2026 season as Greenville continued to battle through the final minutes.
The Triumph were unable to find another breakthrough, falling 3-1 to Fort Wayne.
As the team looks ahead, Tyson emphasized the importance of quickly turning the page and focusing on the next opportunity.
“The team bounces back starting tomorrow with our mentality waking up to attack the next opportunity,” said Tyson.
Greenville will return to GE Vernova Park on Wednesday, September 16, to take on Corpus Christi, for STEM Day, welcoming schools from across the Upstate for fun and educational experiences at the park.
