Hops Stay Hot: Four-Goal Statement Vaults Charlottetowne to Second Place
Charlottetowne Hops FC continued their unbeaten run in the NPSL with a massive 4-1 win over Greenville United at the CSA OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Pineville, NC on Saturday night. They’ve now won three of their last four and haven’t been beaten since the reverse fixture at Greenville on May 17.
It was a back-and-forth affair for much of the first half, although the home side controlled much of the ball and saw the clearest chances, the most glaring of which came in the 15th minute when Ricardo Ferriera missed an open header on the far post of a great corner from Vuk Martinovic that would have given Charlottetowne an early lead. But both sides continued fighting, until a late penalty for the Hops offered them a chance to take a lead into the halftime interval. Ferreira slotted it home past Greenville goalkeeper Joseph Gyamfi in the 41st minute to give the home side the advantage heading into halftime.
The second half saw no changes from either side, but the Hops kept up the intensity, looking to add to their lead. It would come in the form of another penalty. A good ball over the top found Ferreira streaking down the middle, but he was taken down by Greenville defender Abdoulie Sanneh in the box for the second Charlottetowne penalty of the match in the 63rd minute. Ferreira would take the penalty again, but it was saved by Gyamfi, but the Hops’ striker was quick to bounce on the rebound and slammed it home to double Charlottetowne’s advantage.
Two minutes later, the game started to get out of hand, as Greenville defender Jaider Oviedo Vela slid in for a hard challenge and was immediately shown a straight red card by the referee, taking the visitors down to 10 men with 24 minutes to play and down two goals. There was a scrum that ensued, leading to another yellow card for Greenville’s Abubacarr Fofana along with Ferreira and Jacob Bandel for the Hops, but the referee eventually got control of the match again.
And it was Greenville United who would score the next goal to halve the deficit. Joshua Malin unleashed a shot from the edge of the box that was well saved by Hops’ keeper Luca Barros, but the rebound fell right to Malin, who thumped it into the net to get Greenville within one in the 80th minute.
But the Hops would respond right back just a minute later, as Aidan Gummer sent in a beautiful cross into the box and fellow substitute Ethan Stevenson slid into the mixer and knocked it past Gyamfi. Five minutes later, Stevenson would double his tally on a rocket of a shot from an awkward angle on his left to give the Hops a 4-1 lead in the 86th minute.
The referee gave just 90 seconds of stoppage time and Charlottetowne were winners once again. They’ve now scored 14 goals in their last five matches, and they’ll look to continue the streak next week when they host Port City FC at the Ortho next Saturday night. The win pushes the Hops into second place in the NPSL Southeastern Conference behind still-unbeaten Hickory FC.
As for Greenville United, they’re in 6th place in the conference and will travel again next week to take on Bristol Rhythm AFC.
With two home games remaining — including a huge June 21 showdown vs. Appalachian FC that could decide playoff seeding — the time is now to rally behind the Hops.
🎟️ Get your tickets now and help us pack the stands at Ortho!
#UpTheHops
Written by Robert Morrison
