South Carolina Rallies Past FIU 3-2 in Thrilling Five-Goal Encounter
Trimnal's brace and Ballek's heroics power Cougars to dramatic comeback victory in Charleston
CHARLESTON, SC – College of Charleston emerged victorious in a captivating 3-2 thriller against FIU at Patriots Point Soccer Complex, with Tyler Trimnal's decisive brace and Ethan Ballek's masterful playmaking orchestrating a stunning second-half comeback that left the Panthers stunned.
The visitors struck first through Johan Helan's clinical header in the 18th minute, capitalizing on excellent buildup play from Owen Travis and Leonardo Consoloni. The Swedish forward rose majestically to power home a cross that found the high right corner, giving FIU the perfect platform to build upon.
South Carolina's response came three minutes into the second half when Trimnal hammered home his first of the afternoon. The striker rifled a right-footed effort into the high center of the goal, with Ballek providing the crucial assist that sparked the Cougars' revival.
The momentum swung dramatically as both sides traded blows in a frantic period. Pasquale Capriati restored FIU's advantage in the 71st minute, tucking away a perfectly weighted pass from substitute Dominic Brady with a precise right-footed finish that nestled into the low right corner.
Just as it appeared the Panthers might escape with all three points, Ballek stepped up to curl home an unassisted equalizer in the 76th minute. The midfielder's right-footed strike found the low center of the goal, demonstrating the composure that would define his afternoon's work.
The decisive moment arrived in the 83rd minute when Trimnal completed his brace with another clinical right-footed finish. Once again, it was Ballek who provided the assist, threading a pass that allowed the striker to fire low into the left corner past the despairing dive of Nigel Van Haveren.
The statistical narrative revealed a closely contested affair, with South Carolina edging the shot count 15-12 and registering seven efforts on target compared to FIU's five. The Cougars' Filip Versterre was the busier goalkeeper, making four saves to Van Haveren's six, but it was the home side's clinical finishing in crucial moments that proved decisive.
Leonardo Consoloni worked tirelessly for the visitors, registering four shots while contributing an assist in the opening goal. His relentless pressing and creative distribution kept FIU competitive throughout, though his efforts ultimately fell short as South Carolina's second-half surge proved unstoppable.
The match featured significant tactical adjustments from both benches, with multiple substitutions shifting the game's complexion. South Carolina's introduction of Ballek at halftime proved inspired, as the midfielder immediately transformed their attacking threat with his vision and technical ability.
FIU's discipline wavered as the pressure mounted, with Pasquale Capriati and Mathys Lefebvre both cautioned for unsporting behavior. South Carolina also saw yellow cards for Alexander Stjernegaard and Ballek, highlighting the intense nature of proceedings.
The Cougars demonstrated remarkable resilience, twice falling behind before finding the character to turn the contest on its head. Their ability to maintain attacking intent while managing defensive responsibilities showcased the tactical maturity that will serve them well as the campaign progresses.
Key Players
- Tyler Trimnal (South Carolina) - Struck twice with clinical right-footed finishes, registering four shots and three on target to spearhead the comeback - Ethan Ballek (South Carolina) - Provided two assists and netted the crucial equalizer, completing 73 minutes of inspired playmaking - Leonardo Consoloni (FIU) - Contributed four shots and an assist while orchestrating much of the visitors' attacking play over the full 90 minutes