April 3, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
South Georgia Tormenta FC News Release
STATESBORO, Ga. – April 3, 2024 – South Georgia Tormenta FC secured a triumphant 4-0 victory over the Savannah Clovers in the second round of the 109th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. This decisive win for Tormenta FC will catapult the team into the third round of the Open Cup.
This midweek match-up represents the first time the two regional rivals have gone head-to-head. The match was hard-fought with dynamic moments from each team in this epic South Georgia Showdown.
In the 2nd minute of play, Niall Watson found the opening goal, heading the ball past the keeper, with an assist from Pedro Fonseca. The goal marks Watson’s third of the season. Following a challenging away match against One Knoxville SC, Tormenta FC players were hungry for a win against the Savannah Clovers.
Defender Callum Stretch appeared in the starting lineup for Tormenta for the first time, after returning home to Tormenta Stadium from Puerto Rico, where he played with the Puerto Rico National Team in two friendly matches against Belize.
The Savannah Clovers saw multiple scoring opportunities in the first half but were unable to find a goal. Keeper Drew Romig, of Tormenta FC, made multiple diving saves to maintain the match’s clean sheet.
In the 35th minute of play, Jackson Khoury sent a pass to Joshua Ramos, who slid a goal into the back of the net in the 35th minute. Both Khoury and Ramos recently returned to Tormenta FC following call-ups from their respective home countries’ national teams. Ramos’ goal against The Clovers marks the first goal he has scored for South Georgia Tormenta FC.
While The Savannah Clovers opted to make the team’s first substitutions at the end of halftime, Head Coach Ian Cameron of South Georgia Tormenta FC made three substitutions in the 58th minute. Entering the match was Austin Wehner, Mason Tunbridge, and Daniel Steedman for Watson, Conor Doyle and Tavio D’Almeida.
Just prior to these substitutions, Tormenta FC found its third goal of the match. Sebastián Vivas, with an assist by Fonseca, sent a close-range shot bounding into the back of the net.
Romig made his final save of the night in the 88th minute, making an agile jump to head the shot away from the goal. Romig has now maintained two clean sheets for South Georgia, both in U.S. Open Cup matches.
In the 90th minute,…