South Carolina wasted no time making its home opener look like a statement. The Gamecocks rolled past USC Upstate 4-0 on Monday night, getting two goals from midfielder Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez and one apiece from Mika Habel and Loic Sany Kong.
The numbers told the story just as loudly as the score. South Carolina finished with a 19-2 edge in shots, and neither USC Upstate attempt was on target. That kind of control made for a quiet night for the goalkeepers and a comfortable one for the Gamecocks, who improved to 2-0-0.
The breakthrough came late in the first half. In the 38th minute, Angel Lopez flicked a cross toward Velazquez-Lopez, who brought it down off his chest and finished at the back post to put South Carolina in front.
Seven minutes later, he doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Matiwos Rumley was sent off for a shirt-pulling foul from behind in the box. Velazquez-Lopez sent his shot inside the right post while the goalkeeper went the other way.
“I think we came out quick, strong, which has been a problem for us in the past, our slow starts,” sixth-year head coach Tony Annan told Gamecock247.
“I think we've started both our games really fast and really strong. I thought some of our combination play and the way we broke their back line with our movement was really good, creating some really good chances early in the game. They don't always come, but we were patient and it paid off.”
After the break, South Carolina slammed the door almost immediately. Just 16 seconds into the second half, Habel delivered a right-footed cross to the back post, where Sany Kong finished with his left foot. Eight minutes later, Habel added one of his own, curling a right-footed shot to the back post for his first goal of the year.
“It’s all about how you start,” Habel said of the team’s performance. “The 50-50 duels are what matters.
We don't want to get caught on our back foot defensively, regain possession as quickly as possible and use our guys out wide that have a lot of pace. It took us a while to get that first goal, but then got the second.
We started out hot in the second half, got two goals early on and were fortunate to put it away.”
Annan said the Gamecocks were in control throughout.
“I thought we were very good, I thought we dominated the game and created a lot of chances,” Annan said.
The win also served as payback. USC Upstate beat South Carolina 2-1 last season, and the Gamecocks answered with a lopsided result this time around.
Through two matches, South Carolina has scored four goals in each game and allowed just one total. The defense has matched the attack so far, and Annan pointed to the depth in the back line.
“I've got a problem with selection,” Annan said of his defense. “I've got four or five really good defenders, and four or five more who are really good.
I have a problem with selection, which is good, because that's what I wanted. The starting back four that started both games has been phenomenal on the ball and off the ball.”
South Carolina used 24 players in the match, with everyone logging at least 12 minutes and only one player topping 60. The focus now turns to Clemson, which visits Stone Stadium on Friday with a Palmetto Series point at stake.
South Carolina has not beaten the Tigers since 2014 and has only one tie in that span. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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Wright had already built a solid rsum at both stops before his stint with the Cleveland Browns, giving him a profile that fit for teams looking for a proven pass-catching option. South Carolinas inclusion in that mix adds another layer to a return attempt that has since run into an SEC eligibility ruling, leaving his next move uncertain even as it became clear he had multiple serious options on the table. [Read more 🡒]