Stumps Come Back From Down Two Goals and Two Players for a 2-2 Draw

SANTA ANA, CA - Stumptown AC played to a hard fought 2-2 result on the road at LA Force this evening in a game marred by a flurry of first half cards and ejections, and second half highlight reel goals.

Tonight’s result extended an unbeaten run to four games for Stumptown, moving its record to 4-4-3 on the season, while LA improves to 4-5-1 with the result.

In just the 20th minute of action, Jared Odenbeck was shown a straight red for a challenge in Stumptown’s defensive half. The following dozen minutes of play saw four additional yellow cards pulled, including a second yellow and subsequent ejection of Luis Garcia-Sosa, leaving the Stumps playing nine on eleven for an hour.

During the run of cards, LA Force drew a penalty kick on a challenge that appeared to catch ball before player. Samuel Goni Villava stepped to the spot for the home side and was able to power his shot off Stumptown AC goalkeeper Kevin Gonzalez’s hands and in for a 1-0 lead.

After the halftime break, tempers settled down considerably after an opening stanza that never had a smooth flow to the game play. Play opened up, allowing for a beautiful run of form in the final 45 minutes and a back-and-forth finish.

Stumptown AC had a chance to draw level in the 69th minute as Rhys Williams drew a penalty of his own. Travis Ward’s penalty attempt was placed hard and low into the lower corner but LA Force keeper Kifikalani Cabrera made a diving save. Within 30 seconds, the Force transitioned the length of the field and doubled its lead 2-0 on a great team goal.

In the 74th minute, Stumptown AC defender Deshawon Nembhart stepped up for the road squad curling a gorgeous free kick from 23-yards out into the upper left corner. Cabrera was frozen in net, flat-footed by the wonder-strike. With a quarter of an hour to play, the deficit was cut to 2-1, and SAC had life.

In the 81st minute, super-sub Yuki Shibata brought the heroics again, scoring a great goal on a hard roller from distance to knot things up 2-2. His right-footed drive sent Cabrera scrambling to his right but his diving effort could not keep the game-tying goal from the side netting.

The two teams will travel across the nation this week, slated for a rematch next Saturday October 9, at 7pm at the Matthews SportsPlex. Visit www.StumptownAC.com/tickets to join in the action next week.