Augusta Win 4-3 Over AFA in Wild UPSL Georgia Match

Forrest Wimberly
Jun 9
3 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

It was a wild 4-3 win for the Augusta Soccer Team over visiting AFA Academy in UPSL Division 1 Georgia South soccer action played at Primero Campo Saturday afternoon. Augusta leapfrogs over AFA into third place with the result that saw Augusta grab all three points deep into second-half stoppage time off the foot of Jean Lopez.

The match saw Augusta take the lead twice in the opening 90 minutes before AFA Academy would level the match, setting up the dramatic finish by Lopez. Augusta greatly improves their playoff positioning with the result and has just one regular season match left on the schedule.

The match began with both teams only dressing 12 players and a 15-minute delay after AFA had been delayed in traffic. Augusta looked to work the ball wide and isolate the AFA defenders 1v1 before playing diagonal balls and crosses into the AFA box. AFA was looking to find their big target player playing very high and central where he would dish the ball off to their fast wingers running off the big man up top.

The Augusta style of play had better success early in the match and the hosts struck first in the 24th minute as Edgar Vasquez collected one of the Augusta diagonal balls before ripping a shot off the underside of the crossbar down and into the goal for the 1-0 Augusta advantage.

Just after the hydration break, AFA found some success, forcing a double save from Augusta’s Maykel Zeron Castro in the goal after keeping a free kick alive in the attacking third of the field. Augusta cleared their lines for a throw-in and thought they had escaped the danger, but AFA used the ensuing long throw-in to find their target player, who laid the ball off for Jesus Alviarez to smash the ball into the net to level the match.

Not discouraged by the goal, Augusta kept their game plan and in the 39th minute looped a cross from the left flank over the AFA keeper to the back post, where streaking forward Renty Kitty was there to outmuscle the AFA defender and smash the ball home; 2-1 Augusta.

The hosts were not done and despite the AFA shouts for offsides, found Edgar Vazquez on a brace in the 42nd minute as he was slipped a ball into his feet at the top of the box, where he buried the ball past the helpless AFA keeper for the 3-1 lead at the half.

AFA switched tactics and personnel at the halftime break and moved their big target player to holding midfield, adding more speed up top looking to play more direct up and over the Augusta backline to the AFA runners. This switch paid off in the 65th minute as the increased pressure on the Augusta goal resulted in a free kick that defender Mouhamet Diop headed in for the second AFA goal.

AFA kept pumping the ball forward and after a crazy shot rebounded off the far post, Carlos Monsalve was all alone in front of the Augusta net to tap the ball into the open goal to level things at 3-3 in the 85th minute.

Augusta immediately threatened to score off the ensuing kickoff rattling the crossbar as the AFA keeper scrambled to keep the ball out of the goal. Both teams looked to be content with the 3-3 draw, but Lopez had other ideas.

A hopeful ball was rolled into the dangerous area just behind the AFA backline and Lopez was first to sprint onto the ball where he slides to make contact with the ball pushing the ball under the onrushing AFA keeper. The clash of players the top of the box saw the ball roll into the empty net and Augusta grabbing all three points at the death.

With the win, Augusta now holds a 4W-3L-1T (13 points) record in third place just ahead of AFA Academy (also on 13 points) due to the head-to-head result in Augusta’s favor. Augusta has one final regular season match remaining as they travel to FC Columbus II (who sit in seventh place) on June 13.