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USL1 Greenville Triumph SC

Greenville Buries Chattanooga in Extra Time, Books Ticket to Championship Match

November 13, 2021 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Greenville Triumph SC News Release


Greenville, SC - The Greenville Triumph Soccer Club booked a trip to their third consecutive USL League One Final with a thrilling 2-0 victory in extra time on Saturday night, downing the Chattanooga Red Wolves in Greenville's first-ever home playoff match. The defending 2020 champions will head to Nebraska to face Union Omaha next Saturday, November 20th at 5:00 PM EST.

After a bye in the first round of the playoffs, Greenville was the betting favorite to start hot against a Chattanooga Red Wolves side that travelled to the Upstate after a grueling extra-time win over North Texas SC in the quarterfinals. It was Chattanooga, though, who came out hot after the opening whistle, controlling possession and tilting the field towards Greenville's defensive half. The Red Wolves had two chances to score the match's first goal, as Triumph keeper Paul Christensen had to come off his line to block the ball. On both occasions, Chattanooga had a second-chance opportunity to find the netting, only to see Triumph centerbacks Evan Lee and Brandon Fricke rush in front of the goal to rescue Christensen and keep the match deadlocked.

With the possibility of an additional 30 minutes of play in an elimination match, it seemed likely that head coach John Harkes would keep his substitutions in his pocket as long as he could. That changed midway through the first half, when forward Lachlan McLean had to be subbed out after an injury. Jesus Ibarra was called on to replace McLean, and his substitution was the catalyst that eventually swung the match.

Ibarra's play and the halftime break pulled the match more even for Greenville, as both teams played on without many clean chances on goal. As the whistle blew at the 90-minute mark and the playoff semifinal headed to extra time, the circumstances seemed to favor a Chattanooga squad known for a bevy of late match-winning goals in 2021. For Greenville, though, the extra time was an opportunity to finish the season unbeaten over the Red Wolves and earn a familiar trip back to a League One Final.

Ibarra became too much for Chattanooga to deal with in the 97th minute, when he collected a ball at the top of the box and ripped a shot past Chattanooga keeper Tim Trilk to put the Triumph up 1-0. Knowing they couldn't let up with twenty minutes left, Greenville pressed on in the second half of extra time. In the 111th minute, the Triumph erased any remaining doubt after Marios Lomis turned two brilliant passes from subs Nico Brown and Andrew Booth into the club's second goal. Greenville rode the hallmark of their late season push, lockdown defense, to the final whistle to collect the semifinal win and book their ticket to another championship match.

Greenville will look for a second consecutive League One Title when they face Union Omaha on the road next Saturday, November 20th at 5:00 PM EST.

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