A Six Minute Stretch was all the Difference, as the Blues Scored 3 Goals from Minutes 64-70 to Earn their First Win of the Season
After a scoreless first half, the Blues took total control of the match; Scoring 6 goals in 3 minutes to defeat Port City FC 3-0 at Greenwood Field on Saturday.
After a slow first 10 minutes, Francois Djiba was forced into action when he made a diving save towards the lower right corner to keep things scoreless. The Blues’ first chance came moments later when Agustin Lopez sent an overcooked through ball targeted for Joaquin Brizuela, which Adrian Najarro quickly moved off his line to grab and extinguish the threat.
Brizuela had another opportunity in the 32nd minute when Bryce Swinehart slipped him into the box on the right side, but his tight-angle shot was popped up over the bar by Najarro.
In the dying embers of the opening half, Lopez picked up the ball inside his own half and charged down the left wing into open space. He outpaced the chasing Port City defenders into the box before cheekily toe-poking the ball towards the bottom right corner, but it rolled just wide as the two sides went into the half scoreless.
Asheville City struggled to break down the Port City defense at the start of the second half until the 64th minute, when the Blues finally found the breakthrough.
Minutes after being subbed on, Ashton Bilow received a ball on the right flank and sent a beautiful low-driven ball across the box that Franco Ocana latched onto and blasted past substitute keeper Kevin Christensen to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Ocana sent a free kick from the right flank to Amadou Diop whose thumping header was pushed onto the crossbar by Christensen before it fell right onto the goal line. Izaiah Vignali charged in and tapped it home to double Asheville’s lead.
Not even a minute later, Bilow connected with Ocana again who finished the move for his brace and a 3-goal Asheville lead.
In the 82nd minute, a blistering long-range shot from Port City came on frame, but Djiba held strong and parried it away as the Blues earned their first win of the season by a score of 3-0.
Franco Ocana was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for his efforts on the night, which included a pair of goals.
The Men in Blue head off to the Queen City on Wednesday to take on Charlotte Independence 2, before returning home on Sunday, June 7th, when Wake FC comes to town at 6:30 PM. You can buy your tickets here.
