MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — South Florida rallied from a one-goal deficit late in regulation to edge Memphis 4-3 on Sunday, securing a dramatic road victory that keeps the Bulls' NCAA Tournament hopes alive. Brandon Nyagurungo scored twice and set up another goal as the visitors mounted a second-half surge, with Fabio Bozesan delivering the decisive strike in the 89th minute to seal the comeback.
The match remained tightly contested throughout, with neither team establishing clear control. Memphis struck first when Eben McIntyre converted in the 39th minute, but South Florida equalized before halftime through Nyagurungo's opening goal at 66:07. The momentum shifted decisively in the Bulls' favor when Asher Jones added a second goal just three minutes later, assisted by Nyagurungo, to give South Florida a 2-1 lead.
Memphis refused to surrender, pulling level at 3-3 through Saad Chaouki's penalty conversion in the 81st minute after Marcellus McCoy was penalized for a foul in the box. The Tigers' resilience kept them in contention despite South Florida's attacking prowess, which generated eight shots on goal compared to Memphis's ten attempts.
Bozesan proved the difference-maker down the stretch, capitalizing on a setup from Pedro Faife to break the deadlock with just over a minute remaining. The goal capped a frantic final stretch where both teams created multiple scoring opportunities. Jahiem Wickham made eight saves for South Florida, while Filip Sabatti recorded four stops for the home side.
South Florida's 15 shot attempts and superior finishing proved decisive in a contest that featured end-to-end action. The Bulls dominated possession in stretches and converted their chances at critical moments, particularly during the second-half surge that proved decisive. Memphis generated 24 total attempts but couldn't maintain its early advantage.
The victory enhances South Florida's tournament resume with a quality road win against a competitive opponent. Nyagurungo's two-goal performance and playmaking ability showcased the Bulls' attacking depth, while the team's ability to respond after falling behind demonstrates championship-caliber resilience. Memphis, despite the loss, showed fight throughout and remains a tournament contender despite the setback.