STATESBORO, Ga. – On Tuesday, May 10, South Georgia Tormenta FC will face Inter Miami CF in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a special match for all of South Georgia. The fixture marks the first time Tormenta FC will face a Major League Soccer side in competitive play.
Tormenta FC is no stranger to competing with the best, though. Throughout the club’s short but memorable history, South Georgia has faced multiple MLS sides in preseason friendlies.
In a friendly against Atlanta United FC in March 2021, the Statesboro side competed against the 2018 MLS champions and world football stars, like Josef Martinez and Ezequiel Barco. Atlanta ultimately earned the preseason win, but Tormenta FC was able to give them a run for their money.
During the 2021 preseason, Tormenta FC also accepted an invitation to take on CF Montréal in a friendly played in Florida. Current team defender Curtis Thorn and former midfielder Luca Mayr-Fälten guided South Georgia to its first win in club history against a Major League Soccer side.
Prior to the 107th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, Tormenta FC’s USL League One team was winless in the competition. The professional side made its official U.S. Open Cup debut in 2019 against regional rival Greenville Triumph SC in a 1-0 defeat at Early Legacy College. After two years without the tournament and Head Coach Ian Cameron taking the helm, South Georgia has become a force to be reckoned with in the Open Cup. Two back-to-back wins against USL Championship sides earned Tormenta FC the right to travel to Fort Lauderdale and take on Inter Miami CF in the Fourth Round.
ROUND TWO: TORMENTA FC VS. CHARLESTON BATTERY:
Tormenta FC opened its 2022 U.S. Open Cup run against neighbor state rival, the Charleston Battery, in the Second Round of the national tournament. In a game where the Lowcountry team was keen to advance to the next round, the result did not lean in their favor. The game was delayed by a day after several storms hitting the Charleston area and was played safely behind closed doors on Thursday, April 7, with Tormenta coming out victorious 1-0.
Early offensive play helped build confidence and trust throughout the team, allowing Cameron’s starters to believe advancing was possible. Tormenta FC’s impressive first half had the Battery perplexed and without any idea as to how they would find a win.
Tormenta FC carried its first-half constant attacking presence into the second half which paid off when a familiar face to Charleston left the Battery speechless and ultimately responseless. In the 65th minute, midfielder Adrian Billhardt put a cross into the penalty spot, finding forward Arthur Bosua, who perfectly placed the ball into the net with a header impossible for the keeper to contain.
With the goal, Tormenta FC clinched its first Open Cup win in club history and advanced to the Third Round of the national tournament. The Statesboro side would end up being paired against Birmingham Legion FC in Birmingham, Alabama, two weeks later.
ROUND THREE: TORMENTA FC VS. BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC:
To many, Tormenta FC’s Second Round result would be called a “cupset” but to Ian Cameron and his team, this was just a glimpse of how united and hungry the team is to make a long run in the U.S. Open Cup.
A challenging test faced them as the team traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on a dangerous Legion FC side who were coming in as the favorites. A first-time meeting between both sides, Tormenta FC knew the opportunity to make a national statement was imminent.
Tormenta FC was able to find the first goal of the game early on. A quick progression saw Kingsford Adjei take a powerful shot that the keeper was unable to contain; the rebound was taken care of by Curtis Thorn who smashed the ball to the back of the net.
As the first half came to an end, Tormenta FC aged like fine wine. Shortly before the whistle, a free kick by Deshawon Nembhard threatened the Legion. The danger was averted to a corner kick, and a cross was placed into the danger area where Jake Dengler found the ball wandering through the six-yard box.
The two goals in the first half were enough to seal Tormenta FC’s 2-0 win. As the final whistle blew, the unthinkable had occurred; Tormenta FC came to Birmingham and outplayed yet another USL Championship side.
In a rigid environment, Tormenta FC took advantage of the opportunities the game created and capped an impressive team performance off with a win that signified its entrance into the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
ROUND OF 32: SOUTH GEORGIA TORMENTA FC VS. INTER MIAMI CF:
After two impressive results against USL Championship sides, Tormenta FC now faces its biggest test in club history. A game in the Round of 32 against Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF will surely be a day to remember for the city of Statesboro.
Coming from Statesboro, a city with a little over 30,000 residents, Tormenta FC is turning heads as it travels to Miami to face an MLS side.
Notably, Inter Miami’s newly-signed Indiana Vassilev started his path to pro with Tormenta FC Academy in 2013. Vassilev excelled for two years with Tormenta FC before settling at IMG Academy. Vassilev is one of many Tormenta FC Academy players who have found success in the professional soccer world. Although Vassilev never debuted professionally for Tormenta FC, Tuesday’s fixture could see him face his former Academy club.
Tormenta FC is not ready to bow out of the U.S. Open Cup just yet; Inter Miami CF will be a test, especially at DRV PNK Stadium, but South Georgia has a united connection and aspires to be the last USL League One team remaining in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.
Tormenta FC is excited for a historic 2022 as it transitions from Erk Russell Park to Tormenta Stadium. Supporters can purchase Flex Ticket packages to guarantee their presence at all remaining home matches this season.