A Tyler Trimnal goal with the last kick of the match was the difference for the Blues, as they knocked out hosts Lionsbridge FC with a 3-2 win in a barnburner at Townebank Stadium in Newport News, Virginia.
The Blues got things started early when they cashed in on a set piece eight minutes in. The service in the box bounced around till it fell on the corner of the six-yard box for Jack McDaid. McDaid sent a rocket at the net that took a couple of deflections but found its way home for a 1-0 Asheville lead.
The Blues kept the pressure up, as two minutes later, Momo Diop blasted a long-range strike that was just punched above the crossbar by Henry Hampshaw. Six minutes later, Dominik Renz was found in the middle of the six, but his shot was kept out by a brilliant save. The rebound fell to Picksley, but his shot sailed wide.
Momentum then flipped in the blink of an eye. A loose ball off a corner kick was nailed home by an acrobatic finish by Cristian Ortiz to level things in the 30th minute. A minute later, a cross found Christian Hatley at the back post, who thumped home his header, and all of a sudden the Blues found themselves down 2-1.
The Blues nearly equalized on the counter when Renz was played in behind the Lionsbridge backline, but his near-post blast from the right side just missed the mark as the Blues went into half trailing by a goal.
The Blues started the 2nd half off much like the 1st–with an early goal. Mitch Picksley picked up the ball around midfield and shuttled it inside the box before placing a blistering finish past Hampshaw to tie things up at 2.
Tommy Viscuso then stepped up for the Blues with two brilliant stops in the 56th and 60th minute, before the game broke until a holding pattern with not much danger either way until the 80th minute, when Ortiz missed from point-blank range.
Picksley nearly found a 2nd in the 88th minute when an over-the-top ball found him in stride down the right flank. He dribbled past Hampshaw and slid a ball behind him that reached the goal line but was cleared by a Lionsbridge defender.
The first half of extra time saw a couple of threatening chances from Momo Diop and Simon Carlson, as well as a goalline clearance from the Blues, but the deadlock remained.
Lionsbridge started to dominate possession in the second half of extra time and mustered a few chances early, but in the final couple of minutes, the play found its way into the Lions’ attacking third. Momo Diop and Carlson linked up before Carlson squared a ball from the left flank into Bilow, who was taken down going for the 50/50 ball, but the referee concluded no foul occurred. The Blues recovered a loose ball from the ensuing corner and sent the ball to Ashton Bilow on the right side. Bilow sent a ball across the box that was fumbled by Lionsbridge’s substitute keeper into the path of Tyler Trimnal, who poked it home to give the Blues a 3-2 win with the last kick of the match.
Tyler Trimnal was named the Wicked Pie Player of the match for his efforts on the night, which included the game-winning goal.
The Blues have advanced on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they will face off at TowneBank Stadium against South Atlantic division rival Appalachian FC on Sunday at 7:30 PM. The two sides drew in both of their prior meetings this season.
