Tormenta Defeats 10-Man Knoxville
Tormenta's second half run continues!
One month ago Tormenta was sitting at a record of 4-10-4 with 16 points, looking up almost last place as the season seemed to slip by. However, since then Tormenta is now 3-1-1, up to 26 points and looking just outside the top 8 for a playoff spot. The lone loss was a 2-0 loss to top team Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on the road, and the most impressive game has to be the 2-1 win over 3rd place One Knoxville at home. This was a matchup many fans were waiting for as the last time these 2 met, Knoxville got the win 2-1 against Tormenta on a late go ahead by Dani Fernandez.
This game would have its share of action as Knoxville would see a player sent off before half time and then the coach sent off before the end of the match for arguing with the referees. In the end, 13 cards were issued and Tormenta would stomp out any real chances for most of the game.
Tormenta would start the game with the ball on a beautifully warm Saturday in Statesboro. However, in just the 4th minute off a foul just outside the 18 yard box, Knoxville would take the lead as Fernandez would find the end of a free kick and flick it past Austin Pack who would just miss it coming through traffic. The early action wouldn’t stop there as just 4 minutes later Sebastian Vivas would put a header on goal but Sean Lewis would sniff this one out and make the save. Tormenta would level the game up in the 26th minute as Vivas would meet an Oscar Jimenez cross to head home. This was the 3rd goal of the USL1 season for Vivas, all 3 being via header.
Things would get dicey shortly after that goal as both teams would play a physical game not to head referee Carlos Meneses-Rodriguez’s liking. Shortly before half time Abel Alejandro Caputo, already on a yellow, would make a somewhat sliding challenge on Gabriel Alves from behind which would quickly be called and Caputo would be sent off.
At the end of the first half, Tormenta and Knoxville would end tied up at 1 a piece.
The second half would start out quietly as neither side was able to find traction for nearly the first 15 minutes of the second half. Plays would break up or errant passes would kill any momentum either side could build at that point. However, following a Mason Tunbridge free kick that wouldn’t find its way into the box, Niall Reid-Stephen would bury it in as Tormenta would take a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute. It appeared the ball may have deflected off a Knoxville player on its way in.
Knoxville would not waste anytime, though, as they would drive down pitch on the following kickoff and secure a corner in the 61st minute. Jimenez would come up with a huge clearance on the back post to preserve the 2-1 lead. Reid-Stephen would come so close in the 70th minute to getting back to back braces as he would take a shot just inside the 18 yard box that would get past Lewis, just to hit the back post and bounce away from goal. Unfortunately for Tormenta, nobody could make a play off that rebound. Stuart Ritchie would find room on the left side to make a great run, but his shot would miss just wide of the net.
Ian Fuller would be sent off in the 88th minute for arguing with the refs in a very contested game. There would end up being 29 total fouls on the night and 2 red cards.
The win was the first matchup for Mark McKeever against his former club who he parted ways with in August of 2024. For Tormenta, this game also marked a period of 5 games where they have scored 11 times as they try to build on the consistent form and make the playoffs. Tormenta will face Greenville Triumph SC on September 13th in Greenville in a match that could have huge implications for both teams as they roll towards the playoffs.
Until next time, Vamos Tormenta.