(September 10, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a tough loss on Wednesday to the Nighthawks, the Bucks were still looking for their first win of the season this afternoon at Tapley Park. The Bucks took on Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Both teams were looking for their first region win this season. Last season, the Bucks beat the Norsemen in both matches.
The men came into the game with mixed emotions after putting in a very good performance against National Park but still smiting after letting the result slip through their hands, after an awful mistake late in the game. NEO went into a two goal lead midway through the half from a free kick and a loss of possession just outside our penalty area. UARM didn't let their heads go down and kept fighting to get back into the game. The next goal would be vital for both teams, and it was UARM who got it in the 40th minute. Lucas Cardoso (Jacarei, Brazil) penetrated down the right and cut the ball back for Ebrima Jobe (Memphis, TN) to finish. This goal was a huge lift to the confidence of the UARM players as they pushed to equalize before the half time break. Their efforts were rewarded only 3 minutes later when a short free kick was played wide to Luca Fasan (Genova, Italy), who chipped the ball into the center and Ebrima Jobe headed powerfully into the net.
The second half started with both teams cancelling each other out. The game became a war of attrition with both teams looking to win the physical battle to gain a dominant foothold in the play. Limiting mistakes was obviously going to be a key component in deciding the result of the game.
Out of nowhere Mohamed Sadiki (Casablanca, Morocco) created something very special, curling in a free kick over the defensive wall from 20 yards out to give the Bucks a 3-2 lead. UARM came under a lot of pressure with long balls being played over the UARM back line, and it was a from one of these high balls into the box which led to NEO scoring the equalizer. Gabriel De la Barra (Santiago, Chile), in goal, flapped at a high ball, and the ball fell to a NEO striker who had an easy finish from 7 yards in the 81st minute. The heads of UARM went down as they fell to the floor thinking they had let the game slip from their grasp. Straight from the kick off, up stepped Mohamed Sadiki, dribbling down the left and cutting the ball across the goal for Andre Cabral (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) to finish with one touch. Heartache to joy in the span of one minute. UARM managed to see the game out, and even had an open goal miss in the last minute, which would have made the game 5-3.
Bucks get their first win of the season, 4-3. The win gives the Bucks a 1-4-1 overall record.
Excited for his team, Coach Kevin Sherry stated, "We have to be level headed and not read too much into the result. This was a really tough game, and there are even tougher ones to come. We have a good squad full of great characters who keep their feet on the ground and working hard to improve everyday. It says a lot about the team to come back from 2-0 down and get the win. The team is growing and we can all feel it."
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