ASHEVILLE -- ASHEVILLE, NC – Under the biting chill of a mountain Wednesday night, Asheville City SC didn’t just brave the elements; they made history. In a high-stakes rematch of last year’s opening round, the Blues delivered a clinical late-game surge to secure a 3-1 victory over Greenville Triumph SC, marking the club’s first-ever win in the prestigious U.S. Open Cup.
First-Half
The energy at Greenwood Field was electric from the opening whistle. Asheville wasted no time asserting dominance, finding the back of the net in the 13th minute. The sequence was a masterclass in chemistry: Rai Pinto and Ben Assane Fall shredded the right flank before Pinto fizzed a low ball across the box. Evan Southern met it with a first-time clinical finish into the far post, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
The lead, however, was short-lived. Just five minutes later, Greenville responded with a moment of individual brilliance. Following a foul just outside the penalty area, Devon Boyce stepped up and curled a pinpoint free kick into the upper right corner, leaving the Asheville keeper with no chance and leveling the score at 1-1.
Tension in the Second Act
The second half mirrored the first in intensity but remained deadlocked for much of the period. Southern nearly found his brace on a breakaway that was expertly denied by Greenville’s defense, and a dangerous cross to Tresor Mbuyu narrowly missed the mark. As the clock ticked toward the 80th minute, the specter of a penalty shootout—a haunting echo of last year's defeat—began to loom over the stadium.
The Late Surge
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 82nd minute. Ben Assane Fall, who proved to be the engine of the Asheville attack all night, whipped a dangerous ball toward the back post. Substitute Ashton Bilow was perfectly positioned to hammer it home, reclaiming a 2-1 lead for the Blues.
With Greenville pushing numbers forward in a desperate attempt to equalize, Asheville’s defense held firm. Deep into stoppage time, a defensive blunder by the Triumph allowed Fall to intercept the ball. He kept his composure, slotting the ball past keeper Seth Torman in the 9th minute of added time to ice the game at 3-1. For his goal and two assists, Fall was named the team’s Player of the Match.
What’s Next for the Blues?
The Draw: Asheville City SC now advances to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup, scheduled for March 31–April 1. They await the results of the upcoming draw to learn their next opponent.
League Play: The club will pivot to their USL League Two season on Wednesday, May 13 with a road match against Appalachian FC.
Home Opener: Fans can catch the Blues back at Greenwood Field on Saturday, May 16 for a highly anticipated doubleheader.