ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville City SC scored twice in the final minutes Wednesday to defeat Greenville Triumph SC 3-1 on a chilly night in Asheville, earning the club’s first U.S. Open Cup victory in a rematch of last year’s first-round meeting.
Asheville opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Rai Pinto combined with Ben Assane Fall on the right side before sending a pass across the box to Evan Southern, who finished first-time inside the far post for a 1-0 lead.
Greenville answered five minutes later on a free kick just outside the penalty area. Devon Boyce struck a shot into the upper right corner to level the match at 1.
Both sides created chances through the remainder of the first half, including a near miss from Asheville’s Johnny Fenwick off a corner kick, but the teams went into halftime tied.
Southern nearly restored Asheville’s lead early in the second half, but his breakaway attempt was denied. Minutes later, he sent a cross through the box that narrowly eluded Tresor Mbuyu at the back post.
With the match appearing headed for a penalty shootout, Asheville broke through in the 82nd minute. Fall delivered a cross to substitute Ashton Bilow at the back post, and Bilow converted to give the Blues a 2-1 advantage.
Asheville added an insurance goal deep into stoppage time. After a Greenville turnover in its own half, Fall capitalized and calmly finished past goalkeeper Seth Torman to seal the 3-1 result.
Southern was named the team’s player of the match.
Asheville advances to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup, scheduled for March 31-April 1, and will learn its next opponent in an upcoming draw.
The club opens its USL League Two season May 13 on the road against Appalachian FC before returning home May 16 for a doubleheader at Greenwood Field.