Top 3 Upset, El ACC Clasico, all-out battle. Call it what you will, No. 24 Clemson's 3-2 victory over No. 3 North Carolina at Historic Riggs field Friday night delivered everything college soccer could possibly offer. With three goals in the last seven minutes — two of them penalties — six yellow cards, a red card ejection and 4,000 or so Tiger fans cheering on the defending national champs, this top-25 matchup had all the makings of a blockbuster thriller.
Here's a time-stamped recap of all the action from start to finish:
22:59 | UNC 1, Clemson 0
The visiting Tar Heels scored midway through the first half by capitalizing off a lofted cross and a Tiger mis-touch in the six-yard box to deliver the first blow of the match. The goal was Martin Vician's 7th of the season.
32:35 | UNC 1, Clemson 1
The Tigers didn't take long to level the scoreboard, netting what would be their only shot of the half. And what a strike it was. From just outside the eighteen, Joran Gerbet curled the ball over a seven-man Carolina wall finding the back corner in a full Premiere-level finish.
Joran Gerbet has that magical touch 🪄 #ClemsonUnited | 📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/HBoBnUghLS
— Clemson Men's Soccer (@ClemsonMSoccer) October 4, 2024
67:47 | Red card ejection, Clemson goes down a man
Clemson's Remi Okunlola goes into a risky studs-up tackle and is immediately given a yellow card, but after a video review, the ref escalates the booking to a straight red. Okunlola is sent off and Clemson is left to battle with 10 men on the field and just over 20 minutes to go.
83:40 | Clemson penalty kick goal: Clemson 2, UNC 1
Here's where the game within the game begins. A foul in the Tar Heel box gives way to a Clemson penalty kick, video review confirms and the Tigers take their first lead of the night. Joran Gerbet works his finishing magic for a second time and expertly slots into the back netting.
85:42 | North Carolina penalty kick goal: Clemson 2, UNC 2
Carolina's turn. Foul, penalty, video review, goal. UNC's Sam Williams finds a way to tune out the screaming crowd, ignoring the jumping bodies and waving hands of fans gathered behind the goal and levels the score. He celebrates by putting a finger to his lips (🤫) while staring down the Clemson fans.
86:09 | Clemson 3, UNC 2
HOW ABOUT THEM TIGERS 🤯#ClemsonUnited | 📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/lWXtrqzpek
— Clemson Men's Soccer (@ClemsonMSoccer) October 5, 2024
The silence didn't last long. The ball seemed to stick to Clemson's Wahabu Musah's foot as he weaved his way through three defenders and set up a perfect one-time finish for Antonio Illuminato — reminding the nation just why the 2023 national championship trophy is sitting in their locker room.
