Bristol Rhythm AFC opens inaugural season in front of home crowd

Source: Yahoo Sports

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) - Saturday marked the long-awaited debut for the newest sports franchise in the Tri-Cities - Bristol Rhythm AFC. The club opened its first season as a member of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) at Gene Malcolm Stadium in Bristol.

Despite some pre-match rain showers, fans turned out in droves to take in the squad's first match.

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The Rhythm matched-up with Appalachian FC - a long-time club based in Boone, North Carolina.

The visitors scored first, as Niall Reid-Stephens blasted a shot from the top of the box - grazing the bottom of the crossbar before finding the netting in the 36th minute.

Appalachian would tack on two more goals in the second half to claim a 3-0 win.

Bristol Rhythm AFC will hit the road on Tuesday for a tilt with Alliance 865 in Knoxville, before returning home to host Port City FC next Saturday.