GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club suffered its first home loss in a 2-0 final against Greenville Triumph SC at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown, Ky.
The loss brings the club’s record to 1-3-1 (4 points), standing at 10th place in the league standings. The win improved Greenville Triumph to 2-3-0 (6 points), standing fourth in the league.
“Very disappointed with the result, we felt this was a game that we were prepared and ready for, but I can’t fault their effort,” head coach Sam Stockley said. “I can’t fault the boys’ work rate and how they do things. I’ve stood here when we’ve drawn, I’ve stood here when we’ve won, and now I stand up when we lose and what I can say about this group is that they never gave up.”
The home team entered the game after winning its first ever game in club history a week ago, besting South Georgia Tormenta FC, 2-1. The game marked the end of a prolonged three-game home stint for the club.
After warm weather one week prior, 2,260 fans packed into Toyota Stadium on a cold and windy Saturday night. Despite the cool temperatures, the home team started the night hot, putting up a shot on target in the fourth minute courtesy of Cesar Murillo Jr.
Unfortunately for the home fans, Murillo Jr.’s next action in the game would be earning a red card in the 27th minute, forcing Lexington SC to play the remainder of the game shorthanded.
The visitors were able to capitalize on the numbers advantage, with Noah Pilato finding the back of the net for Greenville Triumph in the 37th minute.
Both teams continued putting up attempts before entering halftime with the score 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
The second half continued to see both teams struggle for control before Lexington SC was able to once again begin knocking on the door during the nine additional minutes of stoppage time.
“All credit to Greenville, they dug in and stuck to their game plan, and they defended very well,” Stockley said. “I felt like we could get something out of the game right until the second goal because we’re pushing bodies forward. We’ll do what we always do, we’ll dust ourselves off and we’ll come back to training on Tuesday.”
Leonardo Castro sent a dagger past Austin Causey in the 94th minute to secure victory for Greenville.
Lexington SC controlled the possession in the match, holding the ball 62.4% of the time while Greenville Triumph finished with a 1.50 to 0.55 advantage in expected goals.
Next up for Lexington SC is a road trip to Chattanooga to face the Red Wolves on Saturday, April 29. The club will then return home on May 13 for a match against the league leading Charlotte Independence.
Fans can purchase tickets to the match through the link here.
About Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the men’s first team is the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.