South Georgia Tormenta cruise to comfortable 3-0 US Open Cup win
A brace by Reid-Stephen see the host into Round Two
The South Georgia Tormenta (USL One) cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over visiting Harbor City FC (UPSL) inside Tormenta Stadium on a cold, windy night in the first round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. With the win, Tormenta is now 4-0-0 all-time in home US Open Cup matches played inside Tormenta Stadium in Statesboro.
Second-half sub Niall Reid-Stephen scored a brace to leave no doubt as to the result after subbing into the match in the 71st minute. Reid-Stephen provided almost an instant impact scoring his first goal collecting a Connor Doyle through ball and calmly slotting the ball past the Harbor City FC keeper in the 75th minute. Just five minutes later, Tormenta earned a free kick at the top of the box and Reid-Stephen drove a bending shot around the wall into the near post that bounced right before the keeper to skip into the nets for the brace.
When asked about the goal after the game, Niall Reid-Stephen credited his extra reps at practice with him being ready to score a goal off a set piece. Reid-Stephen had a simple answer as to what he saw on the free kick, “a goal.” With a huge smile he continued, “I just struck it…from practice, after training every day I keep putting in the reps (to score goals on set pieces).”
Tormenta was in control of the game from the opening whistle and the speed of Tormenta was always there to put out any Harbor City FC attacking opportunities. Tormenta used this possession (73%) and the low-pressure, defensive block of Harbor City to create numerous chances including the first goal in the 23rd minute.
Jonathan Nyandjo collected a floated cross from the right flank that was kept alive by a Tormenta teammate and then neatly fired the ball through a crowded box into the bottom corner of the net for the 1-0 advantage. Tormenta looked to find a second goal late in the first half but were just off the mark to send the game to the half 1-0 in favor of the hosts.
Tormenta Head Coach Ian Cameron praised the team after match for dealing with the strong winds and the opponent that played with such a defensive, slow-paced mindset.
“The early rounds of the Open Cup are about survive and advance,” said Tormenta Head Coach Ian Cameron. “We are through, I don’t think we conceded too many chances, we had control of the game in some tricky circumstances, the wind and a lack of atmosphere as they weren’t up and at it too aggressively; but we navigated the round to move on and see who we get in the next round.”
Tormenta now await the second round draw for the matches to be played April 1 and 2.