STATESBORO, Ga. – In its postseason debut, #3 South Georgia Tormenta FC dispatched #6 Charlotte Independence by a final tally of 2-1 as the latter was reduced to 10 men early in the second half. Overcoming an early Gabriel Obertan goal, Kazaiah Sterling recorded his fourth brace of the season to tie a league record for most in a single season (regular season and postseason).
After playing in the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs with the Jacks a season ago, Gabriel Obertan took the ball the length of the pitch and ripped off an incredible shot from a tight angle to stun TJ Bush in just the eighth minute. Things took a turn at the beginning of the second half as Tormenta FC newcomer Kazaiah Sterling struck a ball to the far post from outside the penalty area to even the scoreline in the 48th minute.
Just a minute after Tormenta FC's opener, Charlotte's Héctor Acosta was shown straight red for taking down a streaking Kazaiah Sterling just outside the box. Ultimately, the final South Georgia dagger came in the form of a blatant Khori Bennett handball in the box which resulted in Sterling converting a match-winning penalty kick in the 77th minute.
USLLeagueOne.com Player of the Match
Kaziah Sterling (TRM) – Sterling's career renaissance in Statesboro will live to see another week thanks to the 23-year-old's fourth brace of the season.
Scoring Summary
CLT – Obertan (Santos) 8' - WATCH
TRM – Sterling (Adjei) 48' - WATCH
TRM – Sterling (Penalty) 77' - WATCH