A busy week for Tormenta FC

Naples FC and Charleston Battery visit Statesboro, GA.

First up was a USL 1 match up against 5th place Naples FC on 25 June in what would end up as a great match up. This match up started off with Tormenta hungry and creating plenty of early chances throughout the first half. Sebastian Vivas would come just wide in the 11th minute of taking an early lead. However a challenge by Austin Pack in the 34th minute would result in a penalty kick for Naples in which Jayden Onen would grab the lead on a penalty kick goal. Just 7 minutes later Gabriel Alves would send a high cross in that would hit post and not result in much. However, a minute later on a low cross from Nyandjo would be tipped in by former Tormenta defender Jake Dengler to tie the game just before half time.

To begin the second half Tormenta would make a change in goal due to that challenge by Austin Pack earlier in the game and Sam Jones would entire the game. Tormenta would pick up right where they left off and attacking quickly with Nyandjo ringing one of the post in the 49th minute and that was one he couldn’t believe either. Five minutes later Sam Jones would come up big off a corner kick that would rebound to Justin Weiss and Sam would make a great stop. For Tormenta it would all work out in the 80th minute off a corner where Niall Reid-Stephen would take a shot on goal that would find the back of the net.

Next up would be the Jagermeister Cup on Saturday that would pit Tormenta against Charleston Battery in what you could call an old fashion Derby and it would live up to a Derby kind of game. First lets recognize that Charleston would start 16 year old Viggo Ortiz in his first pro game. Charleston would come out quickly with a goal by Leland Archer in the 8th minute on a corner kick header. Tormenta would answer in the 44th minute off a BEAUTIFUL free kick from Gabriel Cabral that would hook into the top corner of the goal.

In the second half USL Championship League top scorer Cal Jennings would find the back of the net, in the 57th minute, on a bouncing ball that would go just out of reach of Sam Jones. Not even 2 minutes later off the ensuing kickoff Niall’s would hit the cross bar after weaving through defenders and taking a shot on goal that would hit a defender on the way. Emilio Ycaza would give Charleston a 3-1 lead in the 63rd minute. With time winding down Tormenta would sub in Sebastian Vivas in the 69th minute and he would come close rocketing a ball of the post in the 73rd minute. However, he would get Tormenta within 1 goal in the 83rd minute off a nicely place cross from Nyandjo that seemed to catch Gardner off guard in goal. Sebastian would get another chance when Niall’s was taken down in the box from behind but this time Gardner got to it. However, in the 4th minute of stoppage time Niall’s would get a through ball that he would place into the back of the net to tie the game up at 3 a piece, where the game would end sending us to penalties.

Gardner would end the game stopping a shot by Alves in the 5th round of penalties. And Charleston newcomer Jeremy Kelly would get the game winning goal in his first match with Charleston. For Tormenta this was a game that the really could have won as they were at times the better team and had a lot of momentum late in this one. Playing against the 2nd place team in the USL Championship league, a league above them, and coming so close they have to feel good about their play of late. Next up for Tormenta they travel to Portland Maine to face, my hometown, Hearts of Pine on July 6th before returning home on July 12th against One Knoxville. Until then, Vamos Tormenta.