Greenville Triumph SC extended its unbeaten run to six matches and moved into third place in the USL League One standings with a 1-0 win over Forward Madison FC Wednesday night at Breese Stevens Field.

Key Events: 

Christopher Bermudez scored the game’s only goal in the 42nd minute with a great individual effort. Aaron Walker threaded a pass through two defenders and into the path of Bermudez’s run. The 20-year old midfielder stopped quickly, cut the ball back on to his left foot, and curled an inch-perfect shot into the top corner of Brian Sylvestre’s goal. The goal was the first of Bermudez’s professional career. 

Madison nearly answered immediately, sparking a quick counterattack that resulted in Christian Diaz forcing Dallas Jaye into a full stretch save. The rebound fell kindly to Josiel Nunez, but Tyler Polak cleared his first-time strike off the line to preserve the visitor’s lead. 

Polak was in the right place at the right time again in the 72nd minute to clear Wyatt Omsberg’s header off the line after the center back rose well to connect with J.C. Banks’ out-swinging corner kick. 

After earning his first professional start, J.J. Donnelly nearly doubled Greenville’s lead minutes following Polak’s second goalline clearance. After a loose ball popped out to him near the top of the 18-yard box, Donnelly hit a low, first-time strike on frame, forcing Sylvestre to react quickly to his right to push the ball onto the post. 

Madison failed to threaten Greenville’s goal in the final ten minutes and the Triumph went on the earn its league-leading 12th clean sheet of the season. Jaye was only forced to make one save to earn the shutout in goal, as those in front of him limited Madison to two shots on frame. 

With Wednesday’s win, Greenville moves into third place in the table, two points ahead of fourth-place Madison. The Triumph have lost just once in its previous ten matches, a run of form that has brought the club within striking distance of second-place Lansing Ignite FC. Greenville is currently five points back with two games in hand on the Ignite and a trip to Richmond on the horizon. 

Despite the loss, the Flamingos remain in fourth place, tied on points with fifth-place South Georgia Tormenta FC. Madison has scored just two goals in its previous five matches, a problem Daryl Shore will have to address ahead of next weekend’s match against Tormenta at Breese Stevens Field.