Fresh off a second round US Open Cup victory over the professional team from Indianapolis on Wednesday, Mississippi Brilla FC continued its winning ways on Saturday. On a warm night in central Mississippi, the home team treated over 700 fans to an entertaining match and a 2-0 victory over Memphis City FC. After playing the same side to a 2-2 draw in Memphis just one week ago, Brilla muscled its way to a 1-0-1 (4 points) Premier Development League record after the win on Saturday night. Memphis City FC dropped to 0-1-1 (1 point) on the young season.
Brilla controlled a good portion of the first half, tallying 10 shots on goal. However, Memphis City FC goalkeeper Viktor Hoestbo kept the scoreboard level at 0-0 going into halftime with 5 crucial saves. Brilla’s best chance came in the 23’ when winger Napo Matsoso put on a dribbling display before dropping the ball at the feet of Thibault Bourrier. Bourrier’s shot was denied by Hoestbo.
The visitors were not quite as aggressive, taking only 4 shots in the first half and forcing Brilla goalkeeper Jordan Bell to only make 1 save. However, the save was a brilliant one as he denied a 1v1 chance just before the halftime whistle. That denial proved to be the only time Bell was called on to make a save in the match.
The home team began the second half a bit more organized, but also did not let up on the attack. Memphis FC’s Hoestbo continued to deny Brilla the coveted goal making 4 more saves in the second half, including an incredible stop on Bastien Oberli’s strike in the 53’.
Oberli got his revenge just 10 minutes later when he ran past his defender and sent the ball across the face of the goal. Second half substitute Ali Brador was able to slot the ball into the open net to put the home side up 1-0 in the 63’. It was Brador's second goal of the season.
It didn’t take long for Brilla to register its second goal of the match when another second half substitute, Esso Tatchoke, banged a shot that Hoestbo was able to deflect off of the post in the 70’. Defender Rich Bryan was there to follow up the shot and finish the goal to put Brilla up 2-0. Brilla was able to kill off the last 20 minutes of the match and send the crowd home happy.
Brilla returns to US Open Cup action with a 3rd Round matchup on Wednesday, May 23 in Nashville against USL’s Nashville SC. Because of their US Open Cup success, Wednesday’s scheduled home match against the Birmingham Hammers has been moved to Wednesday, May 30. Prior to that home match, Brilla will travel to Birmingham on Saturday, May 26 for another PDL road contest.