FC Monmouth Erases Four-Goal Halftime Deficit in 4-4 Draw versus First State FC

By FC Monmouth

After trailing 4-0 at halftime, FC Monmouth (2-1-2) used four second-half goals, including two after the 90th minute, to come out with a 4-4 draw against First State FC (1-4-1).

After FC Monmouth recorded the first two shots of the game, First State FC had a strong response with two goals in the opening ten minutes.  Their offensive run continued shortly after as they recorded eight-straight shots over roughly 25 minutes. Two more goals in the 33rd and 38th minute made the halftime score 4-0.

“Going into the match, we knew what their pace was, and it is rapid all across the field and especially upfront,” FC Monmouth head coach Brian Woods said. “We talked about it before the match, but at halftime we made some key adjustments as well as some key mental adjustments.  I thought the guys did a great job of handling it and I thought they did a great job coming together as a team because of the adversity that they faced.”

FC Monmouth came out strong to begin the second half, as forward Josh Hesson scored his second goal of the season off a feed from midfielder Colin Lankau.  After 16 minutes of play with limited opportunities for each side, FC Monmouth struck again.  Lankau converted on a shot from over 20 yards out to make the score 4-2 in favor of First State FC.

With the game passing the 90th minute, FC Monmouth continued to climb back.  A long throw-in went off the hands of the First State FC goalkeeper, then the crossbar, and instantly found the head of midfielder Chase Covello.  His header found the back of the net, cutting the deficit to one.  Shortly after, forward Alexander Navarrete drew a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick. As time was winding down, defender Zachary Pereira converted it to even the score at four.

First State FC made one final push, but FC Monmouth stood strong until the final whistle.

“At halftime we got to reassess and look at each other and ask, ‘What do we want to do this year, what do we want to accomplish?’” FC Monmouth defender Zachary Pereira. “When we came to the conclusion of going far and potentially winning this, we decided that this is one of the games we need points from.  We decided from there that when we step on the field for the second half that we were going to get a result.  We went out there, we did the job, and we did what we were supposed to do, so we’re proud of that.” 

Photo Credit: Mike Langish