On Saturday, June 20, Mississippi Brilla FC hosted the Houston Dutch Lions in the second of a two-game home series.
After a weather-delayed match ended in a 2-1 win for Mississippi on Thursday, Houston needed a win to revive their postseason hopes. Brilla was looking to stay in the thick of the playoff race.
Brilla got off to a great start when, in the second minute, Sergio Royo buried a free kick from the top of the Houston penalty area. His shot curled over the Dutch Lions’ wall and into the corner of the net, leaving goalkeeper, Philip Poser, helpless.
Brilla had the better chances early, and threatened to extend the lead, but failed to connect on any more of their six first half shots.
As the half progressed, the Lions started to assert themselves and nearly tied the match several times. If not for six saves, several of them spectacular, from Brilla’s Josh Christensen, the first half result would have been very different.
After the break, Houston scored quickly in the 48th minute when the Assistant Referee judged that George Kelly’s header crossed the Brilla goal line before it was cleared. The early goal knotted the score at one each. Victor Parreiras assisted on the play.
Houston went ahead 2-1 in the 71st minute when George Kelly chased after a Brilla backpass. Christensen was unable to connect with the ball and Kelly ran it into the net.
Brilla tied it up in the 85th minute when Macauley King found an open Sergio Royo in the middle of the Houston penalty area. Royo blasted his shot into the corner to bring the score to 2-2
Brilla capped the scoring in the 87th minute when Logan Mendez knifed down the Houston endline and blasted a shot from a narrow angle that found its way into the net off of Poser.
Houston threw everything at the Brilla net for the final 3 minutes of regulation and six minutes of stoppage time. The Mississippi defense held strong and kept the ball out to secure the win and the three points.
The win moves Brilla to 3-1-2 and one point behind Midland-Odessa into second place in the division. Houston drops to 1-5-1 on the season.
Mississippi now goes on the road to Midland, Texas for two matches against the Midland-Odessa Sockers FC.