Gamecocks Dominate USC Upstate 4-0 in Home Opener

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina men’s soccer team (2-0) won its home opener Monday night (Aug. 24) 4-0 against USC Upstate (0-2) in front of crowd 5,489.

South Carolina broke through in the 38th minute when Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez put the Gamecocks on the board, finishing off an assist from Angel Lopez to give Carolina a 1-0 advantage. Lopez flicked the ball back over his head, where it bounced off an Upstate defender’s head, and found Velazquez-Lopez for a wide-open shot. It marked the first goal of the season for Velazquez-Lopez. 

Carolina continued to apply pressure as the half wound down and were rewarded with another goal just before halftime. Lopez had a breakaway opportunity but a foul on Upstate was called inside the box, awarding the Gamecocks a penalty kick and sending the Spartan defender off. Velazquez-Lopez converted the penalty kick with 1:01 left in the half, recording his second goal of the night to send Carolina into the break with a 2-0 advantage. 

South Carolina wasted little time adding to the lead after halftime, scoring just 15 seconds in. Hugo Febles made a quick pass back to Mika Habel on the right side. Habel quickly sent it into the box where Loïc Sany Kong was there and found the back of the net for Sany Kong’s third goal of the season. 

In the 54th minute, Habel then added a goal of his own. Febles sent a cross to the far-left side of the 18-yard box where Habel settled it and fired into the top right corner.

The four-goal performance marked South Carolina’s second consecutive match scoring at least four goals after the Gamecocks opened the season with a 4-1 victory at North Florida.

Defensively, the Gamecocks were dominant, limiting USC Upstate two shots on the night, none of which came on target. Carolina totaled 19 shots on the night with six coming on goal. They also led 5-to-3 in corner kicks.

The announced attendance of 5,489 is the ninth largest crowd in men’s program history at Stone Stadium.

Next up, the Gamecocks and Stone Stadium will host the Palmetto Series August 28 at 7 p.m.