The 850 Cup Produces Yet Another 3-3 Classic

By Pensacola FC

Austin Priemer came off the bench to score a 77th minute equalizer for Florida Roots and secure a point for the visitors at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium on Wednesday night in an exciting back- and-forth game.

Florida Roots got the game going early with the opening goal in the sixth minute after Liam Kearns got between Pensacola FC’s center backs to head home a nice cross from Taylor Bradley. The end-to-end action continued as Pensacola searched for the equalizer and finally found it when Sam Richards got on the end of a floated corner from Mikey Lightbourne with a beautiful header to tie the game up at 1-1 in the 22nd minute.

Bradley continued to cause problems and got himself on the scoresheet 12 minutes later to put the visitors back in front 2-1.  Pensacola continued piling on the pressure and finally got a break just four minutes later after Prince Owusu was fouled in the box and the referee awarded a penalty kick.  Jabari Hylton continued his good form and calmly tucked away the kick to again tie the game.  Some solid defensive play from Florida Roots to finish the half kept the score at 2-2.

Early in the second half neither team could really create anything to get the go-ahead goal, as the game became scrappy in the middle of the field.  Pensacola finally broke through in the 64th minute when Dillon Gallett found himself in the box with a bouncing ball and produced a top- level finish to volley the ball into the top corner.  The home team surged forward and had some good opportunities to extend their lead but couldn’t get the finishing touch.

Florida Roots hung around and finally got a good look on goal when Priemer tucked away a cross from Bradley to make the score 3-3 in the 77th minute.  Neither team could break the deadlock in the final 10 minutes, making this the third game in the unofficial 850 Cup’ to end 3-3.

Photo Credit: Jay Garcia