The Asheville City Men’s team welcomed Southern Soccer Academy into Greenwood Field for the Blues’ third game of the USL League 2 season. Despite a well-organized SSA giving the Blues their toughest test so far this season, a second half header from Tony Kim gave the Blues just enough to outlast the visitors.

The Blues earned an early free kick through a foul on Tony Kim from the left side of the box after a long diagonal ball from Chay Strine. Michael Rempel tried curling the free kick around the left side of the wall and into the lower left corner but it hit the side netting for a goal kick. 

A flurry of activity around the 26-minute mark saw ACSC come close on multiple occasions, including a strike from Kim from the left middle on top of the box that went just wide. Edouard Nys had a golden chance to put Asheville up 1-0 in the 29th minute with SSA keeper Nash Skoglund out of position, but Skoglund was still able to stop his attempt.

The first half was relatively quiet otherwise for both teams as they went into the dressing room scoreless after the first 45 minutes. 

Both sides came out aggressive to start the second half, with both goalkeepers being forced into action early. Jonny Mennell made a great diving save low to his left off a hard shot from Diego Priete from just inside the penalty area in the 46th minute. 

Rempel pulled off a tricky bit of skill at the opposite touchline before squaring the ball to Issah Haruna, whose point-blank shot was met with a big save from Skoglund to keep the game scoreless. 

Things would not remain that way for long however, as Joao Silva’s pinpointed left footed cross from the right corner of the penalty area found the head of Tony Kim. Kim’s header bounced off the right post and in, sending the ACSC fans into a frenzy and putting the Men in Blue up 1-0 in the 61st minute.

Asheville nearly doubled their lead in the 71st minute through Nys, but his low shot to the near post was met with a strong foot from Skoglund. 

The closing 15 minutes of the match were an end-to-end affair managed well by Asheville City, which limited shot attempts from SSA to keep the clean sheet. 

Despite trying to preserve their lead Asheville would grab a chance late themselves, but the free kick on the edge of the 18-yard box from Rempel was saved cleanly by Skoglund.

Asheville saw out the final minutes of the match and came away with a 1-0 victory over SSA, extending their unbeaten streak to three games and maintaining a perfect defensive record. 

After the match, Asheville City SC Head Coach Scott Wells spoke about the team’s narrow victory and how it could help serve the Blues as they move along in their 2025 campaign.

“We're not expected to run every team over and score 10 goals. It's great to start that way, but the USL League 2 is good, it's rigorous. And SSA, credit to them tonight, they came here, they were organized, they were well coached, and they made us work for the three points,” said Wells. “But I think this was a really, really important message to our team that we're not going to run over everyone, and no one's going to fall down for us. So ultimately, I'm very happy to get away with the three points.”

Tony Kim was named the Noble Player of the Match for his efforts in the match, which included the game-winning goal.

The Men in Blue return to action on Saturday, June 7 when they take on Montgomery United FC at Greenwood Field. You can buy your tickets here.