Eastern Conference Recap
Eastern Conference play started off on Friday night with Pensacola FC hosting Gulf Coast Rangers in a battle that saw late drama from both teams scoring in the last 10 minutes. The 59ers struck first with a thunder strike from Mikey Lightbourne in the 19th minute. Shortly after, a scramble in the box, during a Rangers corner, saw Liam Moore (26′) sneak one past the Pensacola keeper to tie it 1-1. The second half looked to be a stale mate when Yan Linevu for the Rangers broke the silence in the 81st minute, but a minute later Mikey Lightbourne equalized to help seal the draw in front of the home crowd.
Over in Mobile, the Azaleas hosted the new boys from Tallahassee. AFC Mobile didn’t wait too long to welcome the newcomers after big man, Iba Ndaw, slotted one home in the 13th minute. The Lions responded in the 30th minute with a cheeky chip over the keeper by Sy Fontenot, tying it 1-1. Both teams battled it out in the second half when a beautiful free kick in the 86th minute for Tallahassee SC was banged in by Pete Love. But late game heroics were afoot by none other than home town hero, Chisom Ogbonna, after scoring the equalizer in the 90th minute.
The new eastern conference rivalry commenced with the first half starting with an impressive display by Hattiesburg man between the sticks, Adrian Cabado, after keeping Port City’s scoring threat, Jordan Hall, at bay in the early minutes. The 2018 champs saw themselves with a slew of chances early but failed to find the back of the net. The second half saw some life in Hattiesburg forcing Port City FC keeper, Adam Grant, to come up big in the 50th minute to keep it tied 0-0. In the 58th minute the scoring line was finally broken with Jordan Hall banging one home for the Sounders, but an offside flag kept the game level. After a standstill for both teams the 89th minute saw Hattiesburg FC shock their coastal rivals, with U19 academy product, Elean Fajardo, sealing the deal for the early season upset.
Central Conference Recap
In the wee hours of Saturday morning, Gaffa FC and Mississippi Blues faced off in an early #SippiCup derby. The Blues looked to be the team in charge early but a quick goal by Gaffa captain, Cillian Thompson, in the 9th minute gave the 2017 champs some breathing room. To further crush the cross town rivals hopes, Stevie Roberson, of Gaffa would score two back to back goals (17′ and 20′) to give them a commanding 3-0 lead. The second half leveled off with the Blues clawing their way back in the game. Caleb Carpenter gave some hope scoring in the 65th minute to make it 3-1, but Gaffa would hold on to seal the 3 points.
In Covington, the two United’s faced off with a series of wild delays thanks to mother nature and timed lights. A 45 minute delay to kick off didn’t seem to bother the hometown club much after Mason Morise put Northshore up 1-0 in the 2nd minute. Not long after Morise would add to his tally giving his club a 2-0 lead in the 13th minute. Baton Rouge would find themselves back in the game after a quick counter was finished by Eduin Delcid in the 20th minute, but Baton Rouge United would shoot themselves in the foot a minute later after a red card was issued to Ahmad Chabayta after a tiff in the box. The second half would see Northshore United run away with the game after a goal in the 46th minute by Zachary Breaux and the final blow by Chase Rushing in the 58th. The game would end 4-1.
In a game labeled the New Orleans “Clasico” the meeting between Motagua New Olreans and FC New Orleans saw the new comers take the first leg. The Gators jumped up early on the board after a nice header from Jesus Rivera in the 10th minute. Rivera looked to have added more to his tally in the 21st minute but was immediately called for offside. For majority of the match both teams had their fair chances but FC New Orleans pounced on a defensive blunder by the Blue Eagles and added to their lead in the 82nd minute thanks to Gilberto Perez. The defensive mistakes continued for Motagua giving up a third goal in stoppage time to Julius Oladimeji, ending the game 3-0.
Western Conference Recap
The new buzz out of Lafayette, Louisiana Krewe, made their way up north to take on the western conference champs, BOCA FC. What started off as a back and forth contest would soon break in the 41st minute as the 2018 GCPL scoring leader, Quesi Weston, used his brute strength to fend off a defender and beat the keeper to put his club up 1-0. In the 65th minute the Krewe equalized with some great team work that resulted in a beautiful cross into the box where Adrian Olivares found the end of it to tie it up 1-1. Shortly after in the 74th minute the big man up top for BOCA drew a penalty that resulted in a red card for the Krewe. Weston would step up and bury it to put the Knights up 2-1. Remainder of the second half saw some very chippy play with 6 yellow cards being issued. Game ended 2-1.
In Alexandria, the Pool Boys looked to start off their season on the right foot, but much like in 2018’s season opener, Central Texas Lobos would prove that to be a difficult task. In the first half, Pool Boys held on to possession and out shot the Lobos, but nothing too threatening for the traveling team. The second half offered some excitement with a beautiful volley from a corner for the Pool Boys academy product, Elias Hanna, in the 56th minute. Soon after in the 64th minute a penalty was awarded to the Lobos, which was converted by Oscar Ramirez. Directly after the penalty a red was issued to Oscar Saavedra of Lobos for shoving the keeper. The game would end on a chippy note with 6 yellow cards issued. Game ended 1-1.
Shreveport United made the trip down to Lafayette to take on 2018 finalists, Cajun SC. The first half proved to be a period where both teams were feeling each other out with no real threats from either in the first 15 minutes. In the 16th minute Kade Kling of Cajun would put his club on the board 1-0. On a counter attack from the Shreveport side in the 30th minute, Gin Pau, would equalize the playing field. But a minute before the halftime whistle blew, Austin Sun Chee Fore, for Cajun would put them up 2-1. The second half was all Cajun, with goals from Ezra Hebert (46′), Dayton Prejean (54′) and Kade Kling (75′), in what could be said was a very mild mannered game. Cajun would win 5-1.
