USL LEAGUE TWO: Cardiac kids Vermont Green FC rallies again to hand FC Motown STA first loss in conference semifinals
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Down 2-0 in the second half, Vermont Green scored three goals in eight minutes to prevail
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Just nine days after scoring two stoppage time goals to tie the Western Mass Pioneers 2-2 which clinched the Northeast Division title, the Vermont Green FC did it again Sunday.
This time it was on even a bigger stage – the USL League Two Playoffs
The homestand Vermont Green overcame a 2-0 second-half deficit scoring three goals in an eight-minute stretch and rallied back for a 3-2 triumph over FC Motown STA in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Virtue Stadium.
It was a battle of the unbeatens and the Vermont Green found a way to keep their dream season alive with the come-from-behind victory.
Gabriel Ruitenberg staked FC Motown to a 1-0 halftime lead after he scored in the 19th minute.
Motown extended the lead to 2-0 just after halftime when Micaah Garnette sent one home in the 47th minute.
The Vermont Green did not fold, increasing attackers while locking down on defense. The side also began marching in comeback formation.
Zachary Zengue pulled one back to make it 2-1 with a 65th-minute goal, while Maximilian Kissel leveled the scored two minutes later in the 67th.
Vermont kept up the pressure and Julien Le Bourdoulous netted the game-winner in the 73rd minute to pout his side up 3-2.
The Green also had a goal called back a few minutes later when it was ruled that a cross from the endline was out of play.
Vermont Green won two games in Burlington in front of sold out crowds and were awarded Sunday night that they will host both the Central Conference and Eastern Conference finals in back-to-back fashion next Friday at times to be determined.
The two conference champions will meet Sunday in the Final Four with that semifinals clash being played at Virtue Field.
FC Motown STA tasted defeat for the first time this season and complete the year in the Round of 16 and with a 12-1-1 record. Motown won the Metropolitan Division and finished 1-1 in the postseason, compiling a 44-13 scoring edge along the way.
Unbeaten Vermont Green (13-0-3) has now outscored its opponents 45-11 this season – 7-3 in two postseason wins – and also are amongst the final eight teams out of the 144 sides that began the season in May.
USL LEAGUE TWO–EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS PREVIEW: https://wix.to/wrXlPfR
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