Mississippi Brilla News Release - www.msbrillafc.org
Sunday, June 28, 2009
BATON ROUGE, LA -- Just like the last time against the Baton Rouge Capitals, Debola Ogunseye scored an early goal to put Brilla on top. Everything else about the game was completely different as they went on to post a 3-2 road victory.
Anteneh Lemma gave Ogunseye a perfect pass in the fourth minute to open the scoring. Jared Wooley of Baton Rouge countered in the 24th minute to even the score. Ogunseye put in a second just before halftime (44th minute) to take Mississippi into halftime with a slim lead.
The lead would not last when Wooley struck again in the 66th minute for Baton Rouge. Brilla was clearly fatigued from their Saturday night win over the Nashville Metros. The south Louisiana heat slowed the match down and both teams had trouble finishing chances in front of goal.
The match looked destine for a tie when Jacob Lawrence, who scored the game winner for Brilla when the Capitals visited Mississippi, would be Baton Rouge’s undoing again when he knocked in an injury time winner to break the draw and make it 3-2.
The Mississippi bench was the only sound in Olympia Stadium except for a collective groan from the Capital fans and a smattering of traveling Brilla supporters.
The referee would blow for the end of the game two minutes later and the Mississippi players had a subdued celebration, as they were too tired to show true jubilation.
The win put some distance between Mississippi Brilla and third place New Orleans. Brilla is only two points behind division leaders Bradenton. The top three finishers in the division will advance to the playoffs.
“I was proud of the guys tonight,“ said Vice-President of Operations, Scott Taylor. “They were really sapped after last night, and I was worried there was nothing left in the tank. They proved tonight that despite the fatigue and even playing poorly, we have a team capable of winning the big games.”
Mississippi returns home to host the New Orleans Jesters on Saturday, July 4 at 7:00 PM at Arrow Field in Clinton, MS.
