TST Day One Recap: Wrexham and Pat McAfee’s CONCAFA Dominate Group F
Level Up Luke is back with news from The Soccer Tournament in Cary. Here’s the action you may have missed on Day One.
Editor’s Note: “Level Up” Luke is a Soccer Sheet contributor and cohost of The Queen City Soccer Show. Make sure to check out Luke’s preview of TST 2025 here, and continue to follow us on Instagram for up-to-the-minute coverage from Soccer Sheet videographer Moayad Al Bayyari.
CARY, N.C. - What a hot and sunny soccer summer day in the Carolinas! Wednesday saw The Soccer Tournament (TST) officially kick off its third annual competition with the Men’s Bracket group stage. 48 Men’s teams are in play for the $1 million grand prize, and after daytime and evening sessions we have some emerging storylines.
Meanwhile, the 16 Women’s teams start playing for their $1 million today.
The games stretched from 8 AM to the final kickoff at 10 PM, with a two hour dinnertime break between the sessions. Fans could attend as many or as few games as they desired.
Want to follow a few preferred teams? Check the schedule here.
Want to wander around like me and get a smorgasbord of everything? That’s cool too.
It feels like March Madness in the opening round, if all the games were being played on courts side-by-side. Chaos in the best way possible.
I’ll break down the notable results by group, then tell you what to look forward to on Thursday. Hold on tight!
Group A
La Bombonera & Liga Fut7 clinch knockout round appearances
Undefeated 2024 Champions La Bombonera opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Abarrotera Hidalgo CF and secured a 4-2 win against Mississauga Dolphins to improve to 10-0 all-time at TST. They officially advance to the knockout stages.
Liga Fut7 lit up the second match of the morning, defeating the Mississauga Dolphins 6-3 behind a hat trick from Hebert de Souza, a brace from Jose Nieto Martinez. A brace from Josenildo de Filho led Liga Fut7 to a 3-1 win over Abarrotera Hidalgo CF. They officially advance to the knockout stage and will play La Bombonera to determine the final Group A standings.
Group B
All teams tied 1-1 a piece
Three different goal scorers powered Serie A’s Cagliari Calcio to a 3-1 victory over 2024 Semifinalists Hoosier Army while City Soccer FC defeated the Stanford Alumni team, Cardinal Legacy, in a next-goal-wins Target Score Time thriller, 2-1.
The evening session held more drama as a brace from Logan Panchot in Target Score Time (when a golden goal ends the match) carried Cardinal Legacy to a comeback 3-2 win over Cagliari Calcio in one of the most evenly contested matches of the tournament. Meanwhile, two goals and an assist from Joris Ahlinvi powered Hoosier Army to a 3-0 victory over City Soccer FC. This group is wide-open heading into Day Two.
Group C
Nani FC advance as Drip FC and The 610 prepare for a showdown
Two assists from Richardinho set up a Bruno Coelho Target Score Time winner to secure the win for 2024 finalists, Nani FC vs The 610. Drip FC withstood a Club America Target Score Time comeback to defeat the Liga MX side 5-4. There were incredible scenes after the winning goal as the team rushed The Pat McAfee Show, broadcasting live from a stage near the inside corner flag! Check out the video here:
The 610 held off a late Club America comeback to secure their first win of the tournament, and send the Liga MX side spiraling to an 0-2 start. In a 5-3 thriller that came down to two-v-two in Target Score Time, Nani FC emerged victorious against Drip FC behind a brace from Ricardo Caralho and a goal plus three assists from Ricardinho. Nani FC will win Group C while Drip FC will face off against The 610 on Day Two for the right to advance.
Group D
Previous Winners Newtown Pride FC clean up
A clean sheet win by debutants Boca Dallas, against LCF Academy, was led by a brace from MASL star Hugo Puentes and the winningest team in TST history, Newtown Pride, secured their 13th tournament victory in their opening match against fellow three-timer Dueling For Lincoln FC. Later, in a tightly contested match featuring six yellow cards between the two sides, Newtown Pride FC edged Boca Dallas 2-1 deep into Target Score Time and Dueling For Lincoln FC came out on top with a 4-2 victory over LCF Academy. Newtown looks to have a near certain chance of advancing, while Boca Dallas and Dueling For Lincoln will battle for their placement on Day Two.
Group E
Pumas de Alabama surprise, and likely advance
Reggae Rovers played to a resounding 5-1 win over Dark Horse NC United, moving them to 6-1 all-time at TST, and Pumas de Alabama opened their tournament with a dominant 5-2 victory over Say Word FC. In a surprise upset, Pumas de Alabama held off a Target Score Time comeback from Reggae Rovers to secure near-certain advancement while Dark Horse NC United won a 4-2 victory over Say Word FC in a battle between two local squads. Reggae Rovers and Dark Horse NCU will battle for their placement on Day Two.
Group F
CONCAFA and Wrexham secure playoff spots
Pat McAfee’s CONCAFA Soccer Club defeated AFC Bournemouth 3-1, sealing the win with a Target Score Time goal just thirty-six seconds in. For Wrexham Red Dragons, Jake Hyde led the way with a brace and TST all-time leading goalscorer George Boyd added a goal of his own as the they defeated Real Athletico 3-1. In the evening, CONCAFA SC dominated Real Athletico, 5-0, and Wrexham Red Dragons nearly equalled the feat in a match against AFC Bournemouth that finished 6-2, Dragons.
Wrexham and CONCAFA will play in a can’t miss match at 5:30pm today on ESPN+ and ESPNU, for first place in Group F.
Group G
Villarreal CF is the real deal
Early in the day, after conceding early to Brown Ballers FC, West Ham United came back roaring with three unanswered goals to win 3-1 and three first-half goals with a Tomás Pina Target Score Time winner sealed the 4-3 victory for Villarreal CF over Tenfifteen FC
In the evening session, Oscar Ocampo’s hat-trick led his Tenfifteen FC to a 5-2 victory over Brown Ballers for their first win of the tournament and a Target Score Time goal by Sergio Sanchez was all Villarreal CF needed to edge past West Ham United FC 1-0.
Villareal enters Day Two with a strong chance to advance, while West Ham United and Tenfifteen FC will battle for their placement.
Group H
Sneaky Fox is anything but subtle
In the final match of the early session, Sneaky Fox 97 sealed a 3-1 victory over La Mexicana Express with goals from three different players. Meanwhile, a brace by Christian Borja and a goal by Edgar Castillo saw Bumpy Pitch FC defeat Soccer Central Saturdays Football 3-1. Later, in a game that saw yellow cards issued to both team benches, Sneaky Fox 97 regained control, powering past Bumpy Pitch FC 5-3. After scoring the opening goal, Soccer Central Saturdays Football took control, cruising to a 4-1 win over La Mexicana Express with goals from four different players. Sneaky Fox looks sure to advance while Bumpy Pitch is favored for the second spot over Soccer Central Saturdays.
Group I
Pasha Luxury FC wins the day 2-0. Will Hashtag be blessed on Day Two?
The TST veterans and fan-favorites Hashtag United took down Durham based Tobacco Road FC 3-1 while Pasha Luxury FC edged USMNT influencer-led Tactical Manager SC 4-3 with a thrilling overtime goal to cap a back-and-forth battle. The social media stalwart had his revenge later, as two goals from Jeanderson Pereira powered Tactical Manager SC to a 4-2 victory Tobacco Road. In a game in which they trailed 3-1, a brace from Anthony Knockaert powered Pasha Luxury FC to a 4-3 win over Hashtag United and a likely Group I first place finish. Day Two will see Tactical Manager SC and Hashtag United square off for their group stage fate at 2pm.
Group J
League One’s Plymouth Argyle FC will likely advance
John Eskay scored the game winner for Freedom United in a Target Score Time next-goal-wins thriller to defeat Borussia Dortmund 3-2. Four different goalscorers powered EFL League One Plymouth Argyle FC to victory, 4-3, in their inaugural match against Drunken Monkeys. However, Drunken Monkeys got revenge as they came from behind in Target Score Time to defeat Borussia Dortmund in the late session. Plymouth Argyle FC won a 2-0 victory over Freedom United SC to likely secure the group, while Freedom United and Drunken Monkeys will play a pivotal matchup on Day Two to secure their placement.
Group K
Socceroof is on fire
A strong start was nearly undone for Kwik Goal FC as FC Roha Eagles stormed back with two goals, but an overtime winner from goalkeeper Hugo Silva sealed the victory, 3-2. Meanwhile, Socceroof outlasted Raleigh Rebels FC 2-1. Later, four different goal scorers led FC Roha Eagles to a 4-1 win over the hometown heroes, the Raleigh Rebels. In a goal-filled clash, Socceroof ousted Kwik Goal FC 6-4, with Anga Boyota netting a brace, including the game winner in Target Score Time. Soccerroof controls this group heading into Day Two, while Kwik Goal FC and FC Roha Eagles are still in play.
Group L
Selección Potrero will likely move forward
Finally, in Group L a clean sheet from Selección Potrero powered Sergio Aguero and squad past Trident FC 2-0 in their opening match. There were fireworks as Certified Lions FC came back from 4-1 down to defeat Atletico de Madrid in the second largest comeback in TST history. In a match pitting Sergio Aguero against his former club, Selección Potrero kept a clean sheet as they defeated Atletico de Madrid 4-0. In their second year, three different goal scorers led Trident FC to a 3-1 victory over Certified Lions FC to earn their first ever TST victory. Aguero’s squad will advance with near certainty while Day Two will see Certified Lions duke it out with Trident FC for the right to advance.
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