FC Baltimore Defeats Atlantic City FC 8-5
If you thought seven goals was a lot for one game, try 13 on for size. FC Baltimore’s 5-2 win over Virginia Beach City FC last week was a feat in itself with the expansion club defeating a team who had not lost a regular season game in two years. But Wednesday night was a different story. At an early start time of 6:30 pm at CCBC Essex, the scoring started early as well, and it never stopped. After being shutout during the home opener, FCB certainly gave the fans something, or some things, to cheer about. The team pushed across eight goals, and allowed five to fellow expansion club Atlantic City FC who have a high-powered offense as well.
Baltimore led off the scoring in the sixth minute thanks to Sean Clarke picking apart Atlantic City FC’s defense. What followed was the longest portion of the game where a team did not score. Nearly 25 minutes went by without a goal. The next longest drought was 12 minutes. Atlantic City showed how quickly they could score as they put one past goalkeeper Ben Sauer in the 30th minute, and followed that up with a go-ahead off a corner in the 36th. Three minutes later, Jade Mesias scored to tie things up at two. Two minutes later, defender Jake Dengler found himself standing over a free kick, which he then rocketed through the defensive wall and into the back of the net. After another goal by Dengler just three minutes later, FC Baltimore finished the half with a 4-2 lead.
Six goals were scored in the first half, and that was not even half of the scoring. Seven more goals rippled the back of the net. Lucas Mendes scored his first of the year for FC Baltimore. Josh Fawole scored a screamer off a corner kick for his second of the year, and Grant Robinson dribbled past the defense and hit a liner past the keeper for his second of the year. Atlantic City made things interesting by cutting the score to 7-5 in the 78th minute, making it three goals in nearly six minutes’ time. However, time ticked away, and Ben Dao worked some magic in the 90th minute, weaving through the defense and getting the backup keeper to go to ground outside the six-yard box to slot it home for the eighth and final goal for FC Baltimore on the evening.
FC Baltimore Head Coach Brandon Quaranta explained the reason for the high scoring.
“We did a lot of finishing in the last few sessions, and I think that’s helped…We’ve seen the ball go into the net and we’ve worked on it and I think that’s transitioned into the game.”
The high-powered offenses certainly put on a show, and at the end of the day, FC Baltimore picked up an important victory with conference play looming overhead.
“I’m glad we scored eight goals,” Quaranta said after the match. “We left after the first home game, we were disappointed to be shut out for the fans, so we obviously did a decent job on that end. Our defending was not even close to good enough if I’m being honest, it has to be better in transition.”
FC Baltimore play away at DC United U-23 next Wednesday, May 30th, as the squad looks to avenge their opening day defeat. But after the last two performances, it seems as if the team is headed in the right direction.
Contributor: Christian Taylor/FC Baltimore
Photo Credit: Christopher Singlemann/FC Baltimore
