Heat and Surf Play to 1-1 Draw; Augusta Downs Soda 3-2
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
There were two huge UPSL matches last Saturday in Columbia, SC as the South Carolina United Heat hosted the SC Surf in Premier action while across town Soda City FC hosted the Augusta Soccer Team in Division One action.
The Heat saw two red cards and a furious second-half push from the Surf in the very contentious 1-1 draw.
Augusta saw a hat trick from former Soda City man Caree Collier upon his return to Columbia as Augusta carved out a 3-2 win in the club’s Mid-Atlantic Conference debut.
South Carolina United Heat 1-1 South Carolina Surf
South East Freight Lines Soccer Complex, Columbia
The top two teams in the UPSL Premier Mid-Atlantic South conference met in Columbia in a clash of the two heavyweight favorites to win the title this season. When the final whistle sounded, it ended a very entertaining game that saw two goals, two red cards, and one point for each team.
The Heat wasted little time jumping out to an early lead in just the 3rd minute as recent signing Hykeem Martin blistered a long-range shot from the top of the box past the Surf keeper for the 1-0 advantage. The Heat pressed the Surf defense and the first 10 minutes of the match saw the Surf scrambling to clear their lines and fighting to stay in the game.
After this initial press, the Surf grew into the game and produced a better spell of play including a screamer just over the bar in the 12th minute and some scrambles in the Heat area off some set pieces during the first half. The Heat had several corner kicks but just couldn’t find a finishing touch in the crowded goal mouth as the game went to the break with the Heat up 1-0.
Just after the break, the Surf produced a dangerous chance in the 47th minute off a free kick forcing the Heat keeper Ramy Atia to parry the ball just over the bar to preserve the score line. As the teams traded attacks over the next few minutes it was the Surf who drew a penalty kick off a trip inside the area to go to the spot in the 75th minute.
The Surf player shot the ball low to the left corner with the penalty kick but the Heat keeper guessed correctly and turned the ball away in what looked like the perfect save. The AR judged that the Heat keeper left his line too early and signaled the referee that the kick should be retaken. The second attempt was converted as the Surf’s Andrew Barrowman drove the ball into the right corner of the net as the Heat keeper dove the other way. 1-1 in the 75th minute.
Just a few minutes later in the 77th minute, the Heat were reduced to 10 men after something that stemmed from a goalmouth clash on a corner kick. The referee and the AR discussed the action after the play and in a very delayed reaction sent Martin off. The Heat went into a defensive shell and looked to see the match out only to have a second player shown a red card in the 85th minute as Jose Flores was dismissed for a sliding tackle.
The match ended 1-1 as the 9-man Heat weathered the Surf over the final minutes and move their record to 2W-0L-1T and the top of the table on the season. The Surf now hold a 1W-0L-1T record as they sit on four points in third place in the table. The season finale is November 15 as the Surf hosts the Heat in what could be the de facto regular season championship match this season.
Augusta Soccer Team 3-2 Soda City FC
Saluda Shoals Soccer Complex, Columbia
Across town, it was UPSL Division 1 Mid-Atlantic South action as the Augusta Soccer Team slipped past Soda City FC 3-2. Augusta was making their Mid-Atlantic conference debut after moving during the offseason from the Georgia conference. Soda City was hosting their first Division 1 match after moving down from the UPSL Premier level of play during the offseason.
Caree Collier scored a hat trick for Augusta to give the visitors their first win of the season. Collier began his UPSL career with Augusta and then played for Soda City last spring before moving back to Augusta when Soda moved down due to the lack of a Premier Conference quality facility.
Collier converted a penalty kick in the 5th minute before Soda answered with a penalty kick of their own in the 8th minute. Just when the match looked like it was going to the break at 1-1, Collier finished a cross from Kayden Johnson in the 41st minute to give Augusta the advantage at the break.
The teams traded goals in the second half with Collier securing his hat trick off an assist from Alejandro Gonzalez to earn all three points for Augusta.
Augusta hosts Charlotte SA while Soda travels to Mint Hill II in their next matches on September 26.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREMIER MEDIA GROUP / NATIONAL SOCCER NETWORK /
NATIONAL SOCCER NETWORK ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561215500230
— All Rights Reserved, Premier Media Group / National Soccer Network
Comments