Ballard FC Score Three late Goals to Defeat Lane United on the road

A late flurry of goals flipped the script for Ballard FC in Eugene, as three second-half finishes secured a dramatic 3–1 comeback win over Lane United at Civic Park.

The opening half was a fast paced back and forth battle, with both sides struggling to set a tempo and lots of physical challenges flying in.

In the fifth minute, Beto Apolinar received a yellow for a foul in midfield and was then brought down himself, but the ensuing freekick delivery was cleared. Ballard got another free kick in the 11th minute after Cameron Cruz was brought down at the top of the box. Brummett drove the free kick low under the wall, but the Lane keeper got across quickly to push the effort wide.

Ballard’s best chance of the half came in the 18th minute. A bouncing long ball slipped through United’s center backs and fell to Elliot Spatz, whose volley rattled the crossbar.

Just eight minutes later, however, a defensive error opened the door for Lane United. A misplaced pass at the back was pounced on and quickly played through to United winger Mo Thiam, who faked a shot and cut the ball back to striker Milo Wray, who calmly finished to give the hosts a 1–0 lead.

Ballard tried to quickly respond before the break, with Brummett and Cruz combining well on the left and Philibbosian nearly finding Spatz again with a through ball. But the final touch was evading the visitors… for now.

Tempers rose in the 36th minute after a late challenge on Brisco resulted in a yellow card for Lane’s Umberto Pala. Moments later, Lane United’s striker Rossi-Molinas flashed a powerful strike over the bar from distance. The hosts received another yellow right before the break, this time to midfielder Yoshiki Igarashi.

It was an even first half with lots of chances for both sides, but Lane United was able to be the first to capitalize on one and take a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Ballard came out firing in the second half. Right away, Cruz was brought down in the box chasing onto the end of a through ball, but no penalty was given. Head Coach James Riley was booked shortly after for dissent.

In the 52nd, Austin Brummett came inches from leveling the match with a long-range free kick that curled just wide. Still trailing after an hour, Ballard FC turned to the bench in search of an equalizer. Omar Yehya made his debut as he entered the match alongside Sean Sent, Nii Engmann, and Juan Alvarez in the 61st minute.

The changes paid off.

Ballard began flooding the box with numbers, and in the 78th minute, a corner kick delivered by Yehya was headed goalward. The rebound fell to Sean Sent, who finished it off from close range to level the score at 1–1.

Just three minutes later, the match turned on its head.

Off the plane, off the bench, and onto the scoresheet. Yehya pounced on a loose ball at the back and drilled a low shot past the keeper to give Ballard an electric 2–1 lead, and getting the side an important lead on his debut.

Then came the dagger.

In the 84th, Stockton Short booted the ball up the field to Brummett who flicked on a header into the path of Nii Engmann. Engmann realized the keeper was off his line, and with no hesitation he twisted his body to smash a volley from 30 yards out that sailed into the back of the net, erupting the Ballard squad in celebration. A truly world class finish to make it 3-1.

Ballard saw out the final minutes with control. Tanner Dutra and Andrew Myerson came on in stoppage time to help lock down the defense, and though Lane pushed for a late response, the visitors held firm.

An incredible second half statement from Ballard FC; three goals in quick succession to take home all three points.

MATCH DETAILS

FULLTIME: Ballard FC 3 – 1 Lane United

Starting XI: Short, Ketcham, Venkat, Zemenfes, Brisco, Philibbosian, Apolinar, Brummett, Cruz, Otero, Spatz

Subs: Sent, Yehya, Alvarez, N. Engmann, Myerson, Dutra, T. Wilson

Player of the Match: Nii Engmann – with an instant impact and phenomenal goal

WHAT’S NEXT?

Ballard FC will now look to carry their amazing goal scoring form into their home match on Wednesday where they will take on the Tacoma Stars at 7pm for the Bridges United Foundation Night.

Get tickets to Wednesday’s match here!

Written by Rowan Rathbun