STATESBORO, Ga. – The 2022 USL League One finalists, South Georgia Tormenta FC and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, faced off tonight in a 4-2 thriller that saw Tormenta FC obtain its second regular season win at home this year. Deshawon Nembhard, Kazaiah Sterling and Mukwelle Akale were the goalscorers in tonight’s win. Chattanooga ended the match with 10 men after the goalkeeper was shown a red card in the 42nd minute of the game.
The reigning champion wasted no time asserting its dominance, finding the back of the net twice in the first half via set pieces. South Georgia’s relentless offensive drive created numerous goal-scoring opportunities, with set pieces proving to be the key weapon.
In the ninth minute, a well-placed corner kick from Kingsford Adjei landed in the danger area, resulting in a series of headers. Eventually, the ball fell to Deshawon Nembhard, who instinctively struck it into the back of the net, giving the home team an early lead.
The Red Wolves swiftly responded by converting a penalty kick, leveling the score moments later.
With just three minutes remaining in the first half, Sterling earned South Georgia a penalty kick. The visiting team’s goalkeeper rashly left his line, committing a foul against Sterling. Seizing the opportunity, Sterling confidently converted the penalty kick, reclaiming the lead.
Chattanooga found the equalizer in the 56th minute with a shot from distance.
In the 65th minute of the match, South Georgia seized the lead once again, notching its third goal of the game via Mukwelle Akale, who had only entered the match two minutes earlier.
Akale initiated the play by spreading the ball out to Adjei, where he received it. Adjei swiftly returned the ball to Akale, who wasted no time in striking it into the bottom corner. The shot left the goalkeeper with no chance, finding the back of the net and extending the home team’s lead.
Akale would earn a penalty kick in added time, which he would convert to earn his fourth goal of the season, and his first brace with South Georgia.
Following tonight’s win against the Red Wolves, Tormenta FC shifts its attention to the final regular season game of the Peach States Derby against Greenville Triumph SC next Saturday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET from Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Stadium. Saturday’s match will see either Triumph SC or Tormenta FC lift the inaugural Peach States Derby trophy.
