NEWPORT NEWS — Lionsbridge FC advanced to the USL League Two Eastern Conference final for the second straight year with a 2-0 victory over Salem City at TowneBank Stadium on Sunday night.
Lionsbridge FC will host the next two rounds of the USL League Two playoffs in Newport News on Friday, July 26 and Sunday, July 28.
Lionsbridge will face Seacoast United in the Eastern Conference final on Friday, July 26. Seacoast, the Northeast Conference champions, defeated Vermont Green 3-0 to earn their place in the round of eight. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
Dom Foster opened the scoring just before halftime, netting a goal in the 45th minute. Isaiah Chisolm sealed the win with a goal in the 70th minute, putting the game out of reach.
With this win, Lionsbridge has now won six consecutive home playoff games dating back to 2022. The team remains unbeaten in its last 15 matches this season, with their last loss occurring on May 26.
Lionsbridge FC Rallies to Defeat Western Mass, 2-1, in Thrilling Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
On Friday, for the fourth time this season, Lionsbridge FC erased a deficit to come from behind and win, but the stakes had never been this high in 2024.
In front of a raucous TowneBank Stadium crowd that had the bleachers literally bouncing, Lionsbridge secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Western Massachusetts Pioneers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal on Friday night.
The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute when Isaiah Chisolm pounced on a rebound after his initial header from a Matthew Kirk corner was stopped, sending the thousands of fans into ecstasy.
With the win, Lionsbridge advances to face Salem City FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinal on Sunday night at TowneBank Stadium. The two clubs met in the same round last season, with Salem City known then as North Carolina Fusion, where Lionsbridge triumphed 3-1 on their way to the USL League Two final.
Lionsbridge, the Chesapeake Division champions, showcased their resilience once again, earning their fourth come-from-behind victory of the season and extending their home playoff winning streak to five games, including last year’s impressive run to the final.
The match was fiercely contested from the start, with both teams displaying physicality and intensity throughout. Western Mass struck first in the 32nd minute, when Jiana found the back of the net. The goal jolted Lionsbridge, who responded with a relentless push to equalize.
In the 41st minute, Isaiah Chisolm nearly leveled the score, getting on the end of Matthew Kirk’s free kick, but his header went just wide. Moments later, Davide Materazzi made a massive defensive stop to keep the deficit at one.
The turning point came in the 53rd minute when George Wyatt headed home a corner kick from Matthew Kirk, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Every fan in attendance celebrated with a free Chick-fil-A sandwich, courtesy of the team’s and restaurant’s promotion.
Lionsbridge continued to press, with several near-misses, including Chisolm’s scissor kick in the 62nd minute that went inches wide and Sam Hall’s effort just before halftime that narrowly missed the post.
The game remained intensely competitive and physical until the final whistle. The game featured a combined nine yellow cards.
Tyler Hogan made a crucial stop on a dangerous low cross in the 74th minute, preserving the 1-1 deadlock before Chisolm’s late heroics.
With the win, Lionsbridge’s season continues with a 14-1-4 record, adding to a list of achievements that include a fourth consecutive USL League Two playoff appearance, a third straight Chesapeake Division title, and a sixth consecutive Coastal Virginia Challenge Cup.
Lionsbridge’s comeback victory sets the stage for another thrilling encounter on Sunday night at TowneBank Stadium against Salem City FC, as the quest for the USL League Two title continues.
