Bristol Rhythm AFC earn a statement 2-1 victory against Appalachian FC
In a game of fire, passion and intensity, Bristol Rhythm AFC win 2-1 against Appalachian FC in the second-ever Mountain Clash. Appalachian are handed their second loss of the season to a Bristol team who look unstoppable, making Gene Malcom Stadium an impenetrable fortress for any opposition so far this season in the NPSL.
Tonight’s scoreline doesn’t remotely do this match enough justice- you just had to be there to witness the pure and utter excitement this match had in store. Neither team was able to find a foothold in the flow of the match until Kai Slinn scored an absolute rocket in the 16th minute. The importance of this goal proved to be decisive for Bristol, as it completely shifted the momentum in their favor. Rash challenges were made, yellow cards were shown, and the Rhythm eventually doubled their lead mid-way through the second half thanks to a cool and tidy finish from Alex Panner. It was Bristol’s game to lose at this stage of the affairs, and Appalachian FC applied significant pressure all throughout the second half and eventually found their goal late in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough.
“It shows the character of this team, to dig in all the way until the end. Credit to the boys-we give it all to them, and we keep pushing,” triumphantly stated Rhythm head coach Louis Sharp.
The real highlight today was the near-shutout performance and dominant goalkeeping display from Gauthier Lumale. The Frenchmen nearly saw out the clean sheet and had some incredible saves that helped keep the momentum on Bristol’s side of the field. “I’ve seen it for two years, day in and day out, what he can do, and he’s done it again today. Those saves at the end, they win us games,” added coach Sharp, who coached Lumale previously at King University. “We just defended with everything we had, every man did his job defensively, and that’s how we got this result,” Lumale concluded.
The last time these two teams met in the NPSL, Appalachian FC defeated Bristol Rhythm AFC 4-0. To say that Bristol had a chip on their shoulders coming into today’s match would be an understatement, and the players gave everything they had tonight on the pitch. The atmosphere was electric at Gene Malcom Stadium, and fans and players alike will be highly anticipating their rematch on June 28th in Boone, NC.
By Parker W. Cox
Photo Credit: Austin Pantaleo / Emily Roberts
