The Men of Asheville clinched the Southern Division title with a 1-0 victory over Corpus Christi FC on Friday night, advancing to the USL League Two semi-finals for the first time in club history. Izaiah Vignali scored the game’s only goal in the 35th minute with a powerful half- volley off an excellent cross from Niall Reid-Stephen. 

Despite only scoring one goal, the Blues were a constant threat in front of goal. Asheville’s high press caused the Sharks’ backline issues all match, forcing several giveaways that led to major opportunities.

Asheville’s first chance arrived in the 18th minute following a giveaway from Corpus Christi’s backline. Sergio Ors Navarro quickly collected the ball at the top of the box, dribbled inside, and struck a shot off the near-post and out. 

For much of the first half, the ball was on the left side with Lewis Johnson, whose runs into the box caused Corpus Christi all kinds of problems. In the 28th minute, Johnson received the ball out wide, dribbled into the box with pace, cut past his defender, and ripped a right-footed shot just over the bar. 

7 minutes later, Asheville broke the deadlock after taking advantage of a Corpus Christi player faking an injury. Simon Carlson led the attack, urgently pushing downfield and laying it off for Reid-Stephen in the box. The Barbados international twisted and turned around multiple defenders and lifted a cross towards the back post, connecting with Vignali, whose first-time half-volley put the Blues up 1-0. 

In the 42nd minute, Johnny Mennell made an unconventional, yet impressive save to prevent the Sharks from equalizing. After pulling Charlie Harper out of position, Cristobal Porter went one-on-one with Mennell, chipping a shot directly into his face and out for a corner. 

Just before the halftime whistle, Reid-Stephen was involved in the action yet again, ripping a shot from outside of the box in the blink of an eye. The low, driven strike hit the crossbar and went out, marking the second time the Blues hit the post in the half. 

Asheville began the second half the same way they ended the first, pressing the shark’s backline and forcing mistakes. After initially losing the ball, Dante Huckaby won the ball back in the box and snuck it through to Vignali, who swiftly released a shot across goal, just missing the back post. 

In the 56th minute, Asheville’s press overwhelmed the sharks once again. Winning the ball in the midfield, Reid-Stephen led the transition downfield and slipped a through ball to Vignali, who timed his run to perfection. Vignali then attempted to take it around goalkeeper Cuba Grant but to no avail. 

After subbing on for Johnson, Sebastian Tregarthen looked to immediately make his mark on the match. In the 65th minute, the Uruguayan linked up with Reid-Stephen on the left, executing a 1-2 and darting into the box, firing a shot across goal and forcing a routine save. 

Following 25 minutes of end-to-end action, Asheville nearly put the game to bed in the 87th minute. In a dramatic sequence, Tregarthen’s low strike was saved by Grant, Aukele Paikuli-Cambell’s follow-up was cleared off the line, and then Oskar Magnusson’s header sailed over the bar. The moment could only be compared to that from a video game. 

In the dying moments of the match, Corpus Christi missed an amazing opportunity to equalize. Off a free kick, Jose Garcia lofted a cross in the middle of the box to the unmarked Renzo Bozzo, who miraculously missed the header to end the match. 

“Little disappointed not to score more goals, as we had plenty of chances. And in the playoffs, sometimes when you don’t take those chances, it can come back to hurt you. But, thankfully, today it didn’t,” said Coach Scott Wells after the 1-0 victory. 

The Blues will face Seacoast United in the USL League Two semi-finals on Sunday night at 7pm at TowneBank Stadium. For fans unable to travel for the game, ACSC will host a watch party at Olde London Road (270 Depot St, Asheville, NC) in the River Arts District on Sunday night.

The Phantoms won 6-3 against Lionbridge FC to advance on Friday night.