Kansas City
Florida International University
10-Man Kangaroos Withstand Overtime Barrage To Pick Up Draw At Florida International
9/7/2008 4:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Miami, Fla. -- Although Florida International was whistled for 32 fouls in the game, it was UMKC that finished Sunday's contest with 10 men as the Kangaroos and Panthers battled to a 2-2 draw. Three of the four goals in the game were scored in a 10-minute span in the first half.
The opening minutes of the game were punctuated by the referee's whistle, as the teams were called for nine fouls - four for UMKC and five for FIU - before the first shot was recorded.
Indeed, a foul would lead to the first goal of the match, as UMKC earned a free kick in the 31st minute. John Bayron Sosa curled a ball over the wall into a cluster of players. Levi Coleman got his head to the ball and nodded it home past his former team to give UMKC a 1-0 lead.
Florida International would equalize in the 33rd minute, also taking advantage of a free-kick. Marcos Ballardes found the head of Juan Guerra for a finish to the top corner of the goal.
A flurry of shots in the 36th minute gave FIU a 2-1 lead.. Juan Guerra's first shot was saved by Ricardo Guerra, but the Kangaroo netminder wasn't able to hang on to the ball. The second shot by Guerra ricocheted off the crossbar and fell back to the foot of the Panther forward, who poked it in.
In the aftermath of the goal, yellow cards were issued to Juan Guerra for FIU as well as to Brian Quintana and Diego Rojas for UMKC, which would become important in the closing minutes of regulation.
Coming out of the intermission, the Panthers immediately tested the Kangaroo defense, but Ricardo Guerra was up to the challenge, making the save with just 25 seconds gone in the second half.
The Kangaroos stepped up the pressure in the second half but couldn't find the mark until the 80th minute. Miguel Rodrigues collected a nice through pass from Sosa, taking a couple touches toward the left corner flag. A cross to the back post found an onrushing Garret Guthrie for the equalizer.
In the 87th minute, Quintana was whistled for a foul, picking up his second yellow card of the match. With just 10 men, the Kangaroos weren't able to generate any chances in the overtime periods but withstood the pressure from the Panthers, as Ricardo Guerra picked up four saves in the additional minutes.
Guerra went the distance in goal for the Kangaroos, recording eight saves in the match to just two for Shane Lopez. The Kangaroos earned just two corner kicks in the game, with FIU earning six.
UMKC continues its seven-game road swing on Saturday, September 13 with a match at Creighton. Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.
