Greenville United Football Club fell to Briar United Football Club 2-1 in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on a rainy night at Pleasant Park in Apex, North Carolina.
Greenville got things rolling early with a cross into the box by Jaider Oviedo Vera, leading to a perfectly placed header into the top right corner of the box by Abubacar Fofana, giving the Bucks a 1-0 lead. For the remainder of the first half, Briar United got a majority of shots, though most were off-target.
Due to a string of injuries and other extenuating circumstances, Greenville had only eleven players available for the match. Midway through the second half, an in-game injury reduced them to only ten men on the field, allowing Briar United to take advantage and tie the game up. With Greenville still at a disadvantage, Briar used their youth and depth to score a second goal off a defensive breakdown less than ten minutes later. The Bucks managed to create a few chances late in the game but could not capitalize to level up the score.
With this loss, Briar United advances to the third round of the qualifiers, while Greenville United’s run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup comes to an end. This result officially closes out an exciting 2025 season for Greenville United. The Bucks will return for another thrilling season in 2026. Greenville United thanks all the fans who traveled and watched and appreciates everyone’s unwavering support. We look forward to building toward our 2026 NPSL Season.
