Storm slays Dragons in USL2 Opener

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - In an all-Alabama battle, a physical contest led to just one moment of brilliance to give Montgomery United the 1-0 win over Dothan United to start the 2025 USL2 season.

The match was rain soaked from the beginning as the Storm continued to show the nickname has plenty of candor to it as the match started late due to lightning in the area and the sky kept falling periodically throughout the match causing constant adjustments for all 22 players on the pitch.

After several big chances for both sides were robbed , William Blake played what seemed at the start to be any other free kick from just outside the goal area, but it bounced high and found Aidan Riley who created a one-on-one chance with Yago Darub who had been unbeatable in goal for Dothan for the first 77 minutes. Riley’s effort was saved but fell right to the feet of Renan Diniz. The Brazilian winger buried it at the opposite post to tally the lone goal of the evening and secure the first three points in USL2 for the reigning GCPL champions. The goal marked his eighth for the club dating back to last season.

Blake was optimistic about the plan leading to the goal, knowing his teammates early on and their strengths. “I know Aidan, Aidan's a very, very fast player. I knew if I just got it in behind their back line or at least put it into an area where they would get confused [it could create trouble for them.] tThat's why I put it between the center backs and they didn't communicate well enough. Aidan went in, got the shot off, great save by the keeper and Renan's there for the finish. Can't for anything better. Just first and seconds and following up for each other.”

Head Coach Tate Dean was fired up about picking up the first win of the season. “We're excited. It was a great first win, a great fight. I said to the lads today, ‘tactics are good and they have to be disciplined.’ The boys were disciplined today, for ultimately we had to go to war tonight. We went to war, we won the battle, but it's only half the battle when you play next week.”

The goalkeeping clinic put on by Yago Darub and William Blake highlighted the night. Darub would make a highlight reel diving save and Blake would respond in kind by parrying a one-on-one off the crossbar and closing in a few minutes later to force another shot off the bar to keep the match scoreless. For Blake, the difference on the night was the collective fight of the Storm. “I think the difference was just all of us fighting together. We had the tactics; Tate did a great job telling us what we needed to do to win, and it was to go to war, and it was fight for each other, fight for the badge, fight for the city.”

Montgomery United outshot the Dragons 12-10 and placed two more shots on goal with a total of seven. Dean was impressed with how everyone fulfilled their roles on the night and highlighted the efforts of Matt Reed, who despite being held off the scoresheet as a striker, had an invaluable impact in the match. “He's up there fighting on his own and scrapping…He's up there one man against three but ultimately, it's a team game and the starting 11, the subs on the bench, everybody supporting fans, staff, we're a community.”

The win keeps the club unbeaten at home with an 8-0 mark carrying a +18 goal differential dating back to last season.

Montgomery United now leads the South Central Division of the South Conference as it was the only match in the division played.

The two sides will face each other again next week in the return leg at Rip Hewes Stadium in Dothan at 7:30 Saturday night. ‘It's tough if you play a home-and-home match in a week,” Dean said. “That's always tough, so tactics will change. They've got great coaching staff. I'm sure they'll have ways to implement what we did against what we did and we'll do the same. So again, there's a little bit of a test for me as a coach, my coaching staff and the rest of the players.”