Gareth Lea scored the equalizer 1 minute into extra time as SSFAC came back from 2-0 down in the first half and 3-1 down in the second half, to earn an important point in a 3-3 tie with Shaheen. South City opened the game with a strong 15 minutes,but the pace slowed and mistakes allowed Shaheen to open a 2 goal lead. SSF got on the board midway thru the 2nd half when Andrew Elliott finished a chance set up by Fabio Marques and Pedro Crispin, but soon thereafter Shaheen struck again to put SSF down by 2 goals for the second time in the match. The defense for South City had settled down and turned away Shaheen efforts before they could get any real advancement. Paul Pavich, Reuben Wartens, Scott Ellis, Robert Rustia, Ali Ibrahim and Stephen Shaw Smith all contributed mightily as SSF began to turn up the pressure and bring the attack to Shaheen. Midfield play from Bobby Quinlan, Pedro Crispin, Gareth Lea & Leandro Monteiro, kept SSF on the offensive and it finally paid off when Andrew Elliott was taken down inside the area for a penalty kick. Elliott, whose relentless play all day created numerous chances, calmly finished the kick from the spot to pull South City within a goal as time was dwindling down. Goalkeeper Adrian Monroy again came up with a huge save on a Shaheen breakaway to keep SSF alive for the final push. As the match entered stoppage time, Bobby Quinlan found Fabio Marques who slotted a perfect ball to the far right post for Gareth Lea to slide it home and give SSFAC a 3-3 tie, earning them a valuable point in their quest to finish number two in the Majors Division. SSF concludes with a 10-4-4 record in their first season in the Major's Division and can claim a 2nd place finish in the division with a Gordon Biersch loss at the hands of Champion Santa Clara Sporting this coming week. SSF next plays Sporting on April 6th in the 3rd round of the PSL Cup.
Gareth Lea scored the equalizer 1 minute into extra time as SSFAC came back from 2-0 down in the first half and 3-1 down in the second half, to earn an important point in a 3-3 tie with Shaheen. South City opened the game with a strong 15 minutes,but the pace slowed and mistakes allowed Shaheen to open a 2 goal lead. SSF got on the board midway thru the 2nd half when Andrew Elliott finished a chance set up by Fabio Marques and Pedro Crispin, but soon thereafter Shaheen struck again to put SSF down by 2 goals for the second time in the match. The defense for South City had settled down and turned away Shaheen efforts before they could get any real advancement. Paul Pavich, Reuben Wartens, Scott Ellis, Robert Rustia, Ali Ibrahim and Stephen Shaw Smith all contributed mightily as SSF began to turn up the pressure and bring the attack to Shaheen. Midfield play from Bobby Quinlan, Pedro Crispin, Gareth Lea & Leandro Monteiro, kept SSF on the offensive and it finally paid off when Andrew Elliott was taken down inside the area for a penalty kick. Elliott, whose relentless play all day created numerous chances, calmly finished the kick from the spot to pull South City within a goal as time was dwindling down. Goalkeeper Adrian Monroy again came up with a huge save on a Shaheen breakaway to keep SSF alive for the final push. As the match entered stoppage time, Bobby Quinlan found Fabio Marques who slotted a perfect ball to the far right post for Gareth Lea to slide it home and give SSFAC a 3-3 tie, earning them a valuable point in their quest to finish number two in the Majors Division. SSF concludes with a 10-4-4 record in their first season in the Major's Division and can claim a 2nd place finish in the division with a Gordon Biersch loss at the hands of Champion Santa Clara Sporting this coming week. SSF next plays Sporting on April 6th in the 3rd round of the PSL Cup.