The magical month of May keeps on rolling. Asheville converted on a penalty kick in the 94th minute on Saturday to tie Knoxville 1–1, and tonight is the heavily anticipated rematch at their place.

Asheville City travels a short two hours away to try and finish what they started on Saturday night. Incredibly, the Blues pulled out another late draw (it surely couldn’t get any later) and stayed undefeated after 5 games under their career belt. A penalty kick in the 4th minute of stoppage time gave Asheville another big point (and just as importantly, took two away from the Force) in the standings and kept the Blues unbeaten.

Saturday was the first ever meeting between newly-acquainted rivals Asheville City SC and Knoxville Force. Unfortunately, I was not one of the 1,806 folks who witnessed this one live, so details on my end are scarce.

Knoxville dominated possession for most of the game on Saturday, about 60–40 in the first half alone. The first shot of the game came in the 8th minute, a deep shot from ACSC that was easily handled by Knoxville keeper, Marty Baker. Four minutes later, another Baker for the Force, this time Tim, hit the crossbar on the other end.

The tone had been set for Knoxville now. Asheville didn’t concede a goal, though, and pushed on into its first scoreless half.

The chess match continued until the Force, who kept the possession in the second half 55–45, struck first on a goal from Jon Creel, assisted by Tim Baker in the 70th minute. Another opportunity came in the 87th when Baker again, who quickly became the most loathed Force player by the boys in Blue, came within inches of sealing the deal, but Parker Siegfried came up huge for the Blues by giving them a chance to end it the way they did.

The video of the game-tying PK speaks for itself. What a way to end it. Final minute of the game: a successful PK from Jascha Glueckshalt sends the crowd into a well-deserved frenzy. As a result, Asheville stays undefeated and remains in second behind the Silverbacks on the eastern side of the Southeastern NPSL, with a HUGE rematch tonight at 7:30 at Sansom Sports Complex in Knoxville, the I-40 Cup on the line.

After an incredible ending in the first “leg,” tonight’s rematch in Knoxville is promising to be a metaphorical barn burner. I am very interested to see how well the Blues travel to their second away match, this one only a brief two hour hop. I’ll see you in TN! Let’s #PaintThatCityBlue too!