South Georgia Tormenta FC clinched victory against USL Championship side Miami FC in a thrilling matchup on April 17 with a 2-4 score, securing the team’s spot in the fourth round of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Tormenta scored two late-in-the-game goals to advance to the next round.
With a fourth-round Open Cup draw on the line, South Georgia entered the match at Florida International University Soccer Stadium with a fierce energy. Tormenta FC may go on to face an MLS club, which has only occurred twice in club history.
Goal scoring opened in the 12th minute when Tormenta’s defender Jake Dengler sent a header from the center of the box into the back of the net. The shot represented many firsts of the evening.
Dengler’s goal marked the first goal scored across the United States in the Open Cup on Wednesday evening. The goal also signified Dengler’s first goal of the 2024 season. Callum Stretch, of South Georgia, also netted his first professional goal in the 88th minute.
In the 20th minute of play, Miami FC found its first goal of the night. Keeper Drew Romig made several notable saves throughout the night, including a shot in the 33rd minute, as Romig made a skillful high jump to save a headed shot sent from the center of the box.
Both teams played with fervor throughout the night. Just after a corner kick from South Georgia, Miami FC keeper Khadim Ndiaye was shown a red card for a high boot to Tormenta’s Gabriel Rodriguez. A total of six yellow cards were handed out during the first half between the two teams.
Just prior to halftime, Miami FC found its second, and final, goal of the game, breaking the tie that endured for much of the first half.
In the 69th minute, captain of South Georgia Tormenta FC Conor Doyle found the equalizer that the Ibises had been searching for with an assist by Ajmeer Spengler.
In the final moments of the game, Stretch found his goal, heading a shot into the net, giving Tormenta FC the edge the team fought for in the second half. Just two moments later, during added time, Sebastián Vivas found a close-range goal assisted by Pedro Fonseca, catapulting the team into the next round of the 109th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The fourth round drawing was Thursday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m. Fans should look for updates here regarding fourth-round drawings.
