Two of League One’s remaining unbeaten sides meet Wednesday night in South Carolina as Greenville Triumph SC hosts South Georgia Tormenta FC at Legacy Early College. The Triumph enters the match in first place in the League One standings after picking up two wins and a draw in its opening three matches, while Tormenta FC sits in second following draws in its opening two matches and a win on Saturday. 

With the season condensed to 16 matches, Wednesday’s contest marks the quarter-way point for both Greenville and South Georgia. The shortened season and reduced playoff spots make every match that much more important, but Tormenta FC Head Coach John Miglarese is focused on his side’s performance, rather than the table. 

“It’s too early to even look at the table for me,” said Miglarese. “We’re just concentrating on trying to get three points on the road and having another good performance. The biggest takeaway that I want is a good performance so we can continue this positive momentum.” 

In order to earn three points Wednesday night in Greenville, Miglarese’s side will have to do what five clubs failed to in Week 2 -- score a goal on the road. He’ll be encouraged by his side’s performance in its convincing 2-0 win over Orlando City B last Saturday, the first match of the season where he had close to a full complement of players to choose from. 

Center back and club co-captain Josh Phelps featured for Tormenta FC for the first time against Orlando, as did right back Rhys Williams and winger Devyn Jambga who were both influential in the attacking third. Phelps, who helped the South Georgia side keep its second clean sheet of the week Saturday night, is encouraged by Tormenta FC’s unbeaten start to the 2020 season. 

“It’s a good start to be undefeated obviously, we wish we could do better as always,” said Phelps. “We want to get three points every game, so starting off with two draws we’re always going to leave that feeling like we could have done better, but for the start that we’ve had, we’re doing well.”

Phelps and the Tormenta FC squad will have to be at their best on Wednesday night in South Carolina if they’re going to take three points from a Greenville Triumph side brimming with confidence. 

“I’m pleasantly surprised,” Greenville Head Coach John Harkes told Julia Morris of WYFF 4 News of his club’s start to the season. “I knew they were capable, but what I’m pleasantly surprised about is that they realize it now -- how good they can be. That’s always a great rewarding feeling as a coach, to see their faces and see their confidence and self belief just kind of shine.”

Like Tormenta FC, the Triumph have faced adversity in the early portion of the season with key players missing matches and minutes but Harkes’ side hasn’t missed a beat. He applauded his squad’s commitment on the defensive side of the ball after a reshuffled back four helped the Triumph earn their second clean sheet of the season last Friday against Forward Madison FC. The result in Wisconsin, much like Tormenta FC’s win over Orlando, will have the Triumph feeling positive momentum behind it on Wednesday night. 

Wednesday’s match will be the sixth meeting between the southern clubs and if history is to repeat itself, don’t expect to see too many goals -- four of the five meetings last season ended 1-0 or 0-0. 

“We traded punches with them five times last year, we’re very familiar with each other,” said Miglarese. “It’s going to be another chess match and I think it’s going to be small margins that determine the victory, not really big scenarios. It’s just going to be the little details that make the difference.” 

The small margins on Wednesday may go a long way come October. While the league’s nine other clubs have only played one or two matches, Wednesday’s contest will be the fourth of the season for South Georgia and Greenville and both sides will want to put as much space between themselves and the trailing pack as possible.