CLINTON, Miss. - For the first time since 2015, Mississippi Brilla FC has won a division championship! The team sewed up the USL League Two's Mid South Division title with a 1-1 tie with the AHFC Royals tonight at Clinton High School.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. A cross was played across the face of goal, and Royals' forward Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos put it into the back of the net.
However, Brilla would not have to wait long for the equalizer. In the 35th minute, Jake Morris played a pass to Marco Astorga in the middle. Astorga took a touch and hit a well-driven shot past the outstretched keeper.
Multiple Brilla players had opportunities to score in the match. The team outshot the AHFC Royals 33-10. Orlando Lozano had a header that careened off the post. James Ndubueze, Jake Morris, and Ciro Damine also had multiple opportunities.
Goalkeeper Alejandro Chavarria made five saves in the match, including two key stops in the final 20 minutes. The first came in the 73rd minute, when he made a diving stop. The final save was a massive one, as it came in stoppage time from a 1v1 opportunity. That stop preserved the tie and helped Brilla clinch the Mid South Division title.
Next Game
Mississippi Brilla FC will be in action Saturday morning with a road match against Round Rock SC. Kickoff will be at 10:00 a.m. CT.