Greenville Triumph SC – North Texas SC (01-05-2021)

My first groundhop in 1.5 years (!) takes me to Greenville, South Carolina, two hours northeast of Athens. It is the first home game of Greenville Triumph SC, which has been playing in the USL League One (the third division in the US) since 2019. In fact, last season they won the championship. The team plays at the Legacy Early College Stadium, a 4,000 seater all-bleacher “stadium” of a college prep school.

 

Two days before the game I saw on the club’s Twitter feed that there were only a few tickets left. Although I thought they were bluffing, I decided to buy an online ticket just to be sure and, sure enough, the game was sold out. Because of covid-19 measures, this meant only between 500 and 1,000 (I guestimate). The advantage of this was that I had no one sitting next to me. 😁

 

The crowd is very white and local (hence, Southern) with a decent number of women. More middle class than working class and predominantly adults in their 20s to 40s, rather than children. I’m surprised that so many people wear club gear, but I guess this will have been helped by the championship last season.

 

 

After a celebration that we are all back, and ready to defend the title, the game is on. It is played on a very dry Astroturf surface, which does make the bouncing limited and predictable. Already after 6 minutes, a free kick is headed through and a lucky backheel volley finds the net: 1-0. Very much deserved, as Greenville is clearly much better, even if they don’t create many chances.

 

In the 30^th minute North Texas has an excellent counter attack with a beautiful cross pass, a smart inside pass, and a strong shot across the goal that goes only just wide. Four minutes later, however the hosts build up well across the pitch and end it with a clever ball in and a good header in the far corner: 0-2. In the 40^th minute the guests have a good attack, but the shot goes just across goal. Half Time: 2-0.

 

I don’t get bored during half-time as the concessions are so insanely slow that they average roughly 1 drink per 2 minutes — at my drinks stand only one person works. But at least it gives me the opportunity to get a shot of the game from a different perspective.

 

Greenville remains much better in this overall very slow game. In the 57^th minutes they lose the ball in midfield, get it back, and with two quick passes the striker gets it in the box and finishes before his (close) defender can stop him: 3-0. Good goal. Almost ten minutes later the hosts have a long ball, the striker controls it but the ball bounces against his hand. The referee doesn’t see it and he finishes cool under pressure: 4-0.

 

 

Some ten minutes before the end it gets testy. There is a foul I cannot see, which leads to a brawl and a red card for a North Texas player. There is also red card for one of their players who had already been substituted, who ran onto the pitch like a madman and pushed one of the players in the brawl. But by that time Greenville is happy and no more goals are score. With 4-0, the Triumph has made it clear that they are far too strong for North Texas and that they are a serious contender for the title again.

 

Greenville Triumph SC has done a pretty good job at establishing itself in a Southern town, which does have a growing hipster and foreign population though (including Europeans). The “stadium” takes away much of the atmosphere, but the crowd, which undoubtedly be much bigger when (if?) covid-19 measures will be lifted, is pretty good for the third division in a traditionally non-soccer country (and region).

Portland Timbers – Puerto Rico Islanders (23-07-2009)

Although I have (unfortunately) left the Northwest, for now at least, I had one last opportunity to see my Timbers at home, when I flew back to Eugene to drive our second car cross-country. I arrived at PGE Park just 10 minutes before kick-off and was faced with long lines in front of the ticket offices.

With some delay, I bought a General Admission ticket for $12 and made my way to the Timbers Army section(s). I had just missed the national anthem of Puerto Rico (well, if Northern Ireland can have one, why not Puerto Rico!), but am sure these Islanders fans enjoyed it.

A stunning 14,103 people had come this Thursday evening for the big game in the USL 1 (the Second Division) between the actual leaders, the Puerto Rico Islanders, and the virtual leaders, the Portland Timbers, with less point but also less games. The expectations for the game were high, particularly in Portland, even though the Timbers have had troubles scoring against good teams. Timber Joey had his chainsaw and wood ready…

Unfortunately, we were not in for a treat today. While the game started with a chance (for the Islanders) in the 1^st minute, this would turn out to be one of few in the first half. The Islanders also were the better team of the first half, but created few real chances, and thus 0-0 was a logical half time score.

The second half didn’t bring much more, although the Timbers were able to enforce a bit more pressure on their guests. Even the Timbers Army seemed affected, as they were less lively as normally. I recall only three notable attacks; in the 58^th minute the Islanders led a good counter over 40 meters but shot just wide, while in the 71^st and 82^nd minutes the Timbers wasted good attacks with weak finishes. The final score of 0-0 was therefore more than deserved.

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed by my ‘last’ game at PGE Park, although it was clear that both teams were tired and of equal strength. And even though the Timbers Army was not at its strongest that evening (no critique here, as I hardly ever sing or shout myself), they still provide the best football atmosphere in the US.

Portland Timbers – Rochester Rhinos (14-05-2009)

Given that I will leave beautiful Oregon already next moth, I decided to make use of the later kick-off time, as a consequence of television coverage, and drive up to Portland after class. Moreover, this time I took my fiancé M.G. with me, as she had to experience this rare true football atmosphere in the US too. We arrived well in time for the game, bought a General Admission ticket for $10, and made our ways to the food stands (which are pricy, but have some good stuff; including a killer Italian chicken sausage).

As always, the Timbers Army were ready for the game, waving their scarves, singing their songs, and never relenting (they had even put up leaflets with the words of their key songs, so that newbies could sing along). We sat just behind the 106-107 sections, among the so-called ‘tourists’ – all together, there were 7.556 people in PGE Park this evening.

I won’t go into details regarding the game, as I didn’t make notes, and the Timbers website has a decent report. Overall, the level of play was very decent, particularly for a Second Division game; in fact, both in terms of attendance and quality of play it could easily compete with Second Division games in most European countries (including France or the Netherlands). In the first half of the game the Timbers were clearly the better team, but failed to pressure and, most notably, shoot at goal. Still, just before half time, the hosts finally succeeded in scoring: 1-0, also the half time scored.

After a half time rugby game between the Oregon Ducks and Oregon Sports Union Rugby Club, the second half started with a good chance for the Timbers. After that, however, the hosts slowed the pace of play even further, continuing to play predictably and passing rather than shooting. The Rochester Rhinos had less possession, but seemed increasingly threatening. Halfway the second half, however, the visitors got a red card, which seemed to seal the game. However, shortly after, the Rhinos scored a shocker equalizer: 1-1. Though disappointed, the Timbers fans kept cheering their team, well into extra time, when, to everyone’s surprise, the ref whistled a penalty (Timbers fans later told me it was because of the violent pushing of a player who was not directly involved in the play).

Not long after the Timbers scored the winner, the game was ended. To be fair, the Rhinos were very harshly treated, even if they did play rough at times. Then again, I was overjoyed that we won in the end. M and I stayed for the usual celebrations, where the players come to the side of the Timbers Army and get the pieces of wood Timber Joey has sawed off a huge piece of timber.

Can’t wait to come back to PGE Park! Portland Timbers rule!