Chapa Herrera’s extra time goal lifts Triumph to Open Cup Third Round
Knoxville, TN (April 3, 2023)- A stoppage time goal from Triumph midfielder, Chapa Herrera capped another riveting victory for the Greenville Triumph, as the club secured a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win in Knoxville to advance to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Greenville remains undefeated in 2024 and will return to league play this Saturday at home.
The early stages of the all-League One second round pairing saw Greenville’s forward, Lyam Mackinnon, make his mark in the 15th minute with a stunning volley, capitalizing on a brilliant sequence initiated by Greenville native, Hayden Anderson. Despite Knoxville’s swift response with a penalty kick just moments later, Mackinnon’s heroics continued as he notched his second goal of the night in the 32nd minute, propelling Greenville to a 2-1 lead at halftime.
However, the second half brought renewed vigor from Knoxville, who managed to level the score once again at 2-2 by the 62nd minute, setting the stage for a tense battle late in the second half. As the clock wound down in regulation time, Greenville was presented with a golden opportunity to seize victory when a foul in the box awarded them a penalty kick. Yet, despite veteran defender Brandon Fricke’s best efforts, Knoxville’s goalkeeper thwarted the attempt, forcing the match into overtime.
With tensions running high after a high number of yellow cards and both teams pushing for a decisive goal, it was Greenville who ultimately found the breakthrough. In the 107th minute Leo Castro calmly slotted a pass to Chapa Herrera, who was subbed on in extra time. Herrera calmly flicked the ball past the Knoxville keeper, securing the latest goal in Triumph history and clinching a dramatic 3-2 victory for Greenville to send the club to the next round of the bracket-style tournament.
The draw for the third round of the 2024 U.S. Open Cup will take place on Thursday, April 4th at 1:00 PM ET. The Greenville Triumph will return to league play in Paladin Stadium on Saturday, April 6th for Star Wars Night. Tickets are available now.
