A sellout crowd welcomed professional soccer back to Statesboro, Ga. for the first time in more than 60 years and was treated to a memorable night that saw South Georgia Tormenta FC claim the first victory in USL League One history.

STATESBORO, Ga. – Alex Morrell scored the first goal in USL League One history as a sellout crowd of 3,519 at Erk Russell Park saw South Georgia Tormenta FC claim the first victory in the league’s history against regional rival Greenville Triumph SC. The visitors almost grabbed the lead eight minutes before halftime when Jake Keegan’s shot flashed just wide of the right post, but Tormenta FC gained the upper hand in the 72nd minute when Marco Micaletto found space in behind the Triumph SC defense and squared for Morrell, who fired his shot high into the net past the advancing goalkeeper. Morrell’s goal stood up as a the winner thanks to a stellar late save by South Georgia goalkeeper Pablo Jara to deny Greenville’s Paul Clowes with three minutes to go, and that would be all the hosts needed to secure a historic victory.

USLLeagueOne.com Man of the Match

Alex Morrell, South Georgia Tormenta FC – Morrell wrote his name into the history books as the first goalscorer in League One history to give the hosts all three points on a memorable night in Statesboro.