Saturday, June 29, 2013
CLINTON, Miss. -- After a tough three-game road trip that saw the Mississippi Brilla lose three close games, the team fell 1-0 against the Panama City Beach Pirates on Saturday night in front of a crowd of nearly 900 at Clinton High School Stadium. Drew Russell scored the only goal of the game in the 90th minute, keeping the Pirates in second place in the PDL's Southeast Division.
The Pirates threatened early as they forced Brilla goalkeeper Brendan Ledgeway into two fine saves. After the Brilla found their feet, they created a few chances of their own, but neither team was able to find the back of the net during the first half.
The second half started much like the first with the Pirates forcing the action and holding possession. The Brilla began to turn the tide and threaten the goal midway through the second half, but the Pirates goalkeeper, Sean Lewis, thwarted AJ Arnold’s one-on-one effort.
The match looked as if it was destined to end in a draw, but the Pirates stuck the winner in the 90th minute when Taian Souza found an open Russell 10 yards out. Russell stuck the ball with his first touch inside the near post of the Brilla’s goal to notch the winner for Panama City Beach.
The loss leaves the Brilla nine points behind the Pirates and Ocala Stampde for the Southeast Division's two playoff places, leaving an uphill clinb to get back in contention in their final four games. The side will hold out hope as it embarks on the final regular season road trip to take on the division-leading Stampede and the third-placed Orlando City U23’s in its next two games.
The Brilla’s next home match will be when they host Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy on July 11 at Clinton High School at 7 p.m. CT.