Mississippi Brilla News Release -- www.brillasoccer.org
Friiday, July 1, 2011
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Mississippi Brilla traveled to south Florida for a Friday matchup against the third-place IMG Bradenton Academics and came away with a 2-0 victory that at least temporarily allowed the side to move into sole possession of first place in the USL Premier Development League's Southeast Division.
Bradenton started pressing from the first whistle and saw a couple of good chances saved by Brilla 'keeper Zach Torp. The Brilla found their footing and began creating attacks of their own before they would draw first blood.
In the 34th minute, David Palmer slipped a perfect pass into Moses Aduny. Aduny's first touch carried him around the onrushing Academics' 'keeper before he steadied himself and buried the ball into the far-post side-netting.
Brilla winger Nick Rich nearly doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time when he intercepted a Bradenton pass and fired a shot that grazed the post of the Academics' goal. It would be the last chance for either team of the half and Brilla held a one-goal advantage at the interval.
Mississippi didn't have to wait long to add their second goal in the second half when the Brilla's Jamie Bladen took a short free kick to Palmer at the top of the penalty area. Palmer curled his shot around the goalkeeper and into the corner of the Bradenton goal to put the Brilla up 2-0 in the 51st minute.
Despite several close chances for both teams, including an apparent Bradenton goal disallowed for offside, neither team could score again.
The wins puts Brilla alone at the top of the division, three points ahead of the Central Florida Kraze, before they finish this Florida road trip in Fort Lauderdale against Schulz Academy on Sunday evening.