UPDATED at 5:49 P.M. ET ON APRIL 6, 2022
STATESBORO, Ga. – After two years of absence, the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup makes its return in 2022 with South Georgia Tormenta FC entering the tournament in the second round. Statesboro’s professional soccer team will travel to Charleston, South Carolina, to take on the Charleston Battery on Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m. ET.
“We are ready to compete this [Thursday],” Head Coach Ian Cameron commented. “Saturday’s gone; we are proud of some things that we showed on the field; there is a lot to take from Saturday’s match against NCFC. [Thursday] is a totally different game; The Battery are one of the most combative and versatile teams in the USL Championship. The club has a clear philosophy of what they are trying to do. We respect what they bring to the game.”
Ian Cameron, Tormenta FC Head Coach
“The US Open Cup is a great opportunity,” Cameron said. “If we win this game we will likely have an MLS team next. We would love to be in the third round of the Open Cup and put Tormenta FC on the map.”
Tormenta FC made its professional debut in the 106th edition of the US Open Cup in 2019, in a 1-0 defeat against Greenville Triumph. In the only meeting between the professional Tormenta FC squad and the Battery, the two sides played to a 1-1 draw at Erk Russell Park during the 2020 preseason. The preprofessional side Tormenta FC 2 faced off against the Battery in the 2018 edition of the Open Cup, playing a physical match against the Charleston side ending in a 1-0 defeat for TFC 2.
South Georgia opened its 2022 USL League One season last Saturday in a fixture against North Carolina FC. The two sides played a passionate match at Erk Russell Park, and Tormenta FC ultimately fell 0-1 despite recording 72 percent of the possession and 14 shots to North Carolina’s four shots.
The fixture will feature two former Charleston Battery players, Forward Arthur Bosua and Belizean International Deshawon Nembhard return to Patriot’s Point Park; this time around proudly representing the navy and magenta.
“[Thursday]’s game is massive,” Alex Morrell commented. “The Open Cup is a great opportunity for teams like Tormenta FC to compete against teams in higher divisions to show what we are made of.”
Tormenta FC Midfielder Alex Morrell
Fans not able to make it to Thursday’s match can stream the match domestically via ESPN+.
Charleston Battery kicked off its 30th season as a professional club in 2022 with a 1-0 win against FC Tulsa. The Battery is currently ranked 10th in the USL Championship Eastern Conference and is on a three-game losing streak after dropping points at Detroit City FC, Atlanta United II and at home against Las Vegas Lights FC.
In its 107th edition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – U.S. Soccer’s National Championship – has crowned a champion since 1914 every year except in 2020 and 2021. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and is open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. In 1999, the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
Tormenta FC is excited for a historic 2022 as it transitions from Erk Russell Park to Tormenta Stadium. Single-match tickets are now live for advance purchase with Tormenta FC’s home opener approaching on April 2. Supporters can also purchase season memberships or Flex Ticket packages and guarantee their presence at every home match this season.
usopencup.com is the official website of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Fans can also follow the competition on Twitter and Instagram @OpenCup and Facebook @OfficialOpenCup.
HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW:
Thursday’s match versus Charleston Battery will be streamed live through ESPN+ domestically. For live updates and highlights throughout the match, fans can follow Tormenta FC on Twitter.
