Pensacola outscores newcomers Valdosta
Bruno Marques scored four goals — three in the first 14 minutes — to lead the Pelicans to a 9-0 win Sunday.
Pensacola FC winger Kendrick Hernandez defends against a Sowegans SC player in the Pelicans’ 4-0 win May 10 in Leesburg, Ga. Hernandez dished out three assists in PFC’s 9-0 home-opening win Sunday against Valdosta. CREDIT: Pensacola FC
PFC wins 9-0, leaps into first place
The Pelicans needed to win by seven goals Sunday to top The League for Clubs’ Gulf Coast Conference standings. They beat Valdosta FC 9-0 at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium.
The win drew Pensacola (2-0-0, 6 points) into a three-way tie with Tallahassee SC and Gaffa FC of Jackson, Miss.; but the Pelicans have scored 13 goals in two matches and conceded none. Their +13 goal differential is three better than their rivals, who both have a 10-goal surplus.
Logan: ‘Playing at a high level’
Pensacola coach Dean Logan said the Pelicans weren’t sure what to expect from Valdosta, which is playing its first season. The Georgia side lost its first two matches to Tallahassee (2-7) and Sowegans (0-2).
“So, for them, it was important to come and try to get a positive result at our place,” Logan said. “The guys trained really well this week, and we just focused on playing at a high level for the 90 minutes. The challenge was to hope that the guys maintained that level for 90 minutes.
“I was so proud of them, as they never dropped the level.”
Logan applauded the effort from the visitors’ overmatched players.
“Credit to Valdosta, as they actually were really trying to play, and at no time showed signs of giving up,” he said. “Their goalkeeper ( Iori Vamori) was making some wonderful saves , but unfortunately he had to leave the game with an injury.”
Vamori left the match shortly before halftime.
Bruno Marques scores for fun
PFC newcomer Bruno Marques — who had a hat trick in the Pelicans’ 4-0 win May 10 at Sowegans SC — equaled that feat in 14 minutes Sunday. He scored his fourth in the 29th minute.
The Pelicans led 7-0 by halftime.
There were plenty of plaudits to go around after the one-sided match.
“Bruno Marques was amazing again tonight, with Kendrick Hernandez being very efficient in the attacking third with three assists on the night,” Logan said. “We had the trio of Eduardo Pampolini, Marcus Pereira and Nacho Miranda dominating in the midfield. Sy Fontenot scored two goals tonight, as he was always looking to run in behind which caused a lot of problems for Valdosta.”
Logan also had praise for his midfield and defenders.
“Joao Ribeiro was stellar alongside Aaron Boateng in the center back positions,” the veteran coach said. “We must also give credit to Rodrigo Bacci, and Mohammed Alshabot who was very active all night on both sides of the ball.”
In net, keeper Gabriel Mendoza turned in a clean sheet, matching Cooper Jennings’ effort from a week earlier.
Hernandez had three assists; Fontenot had two goals and an assist; Pampolini and Alshabot each had two assists, and Bacci, Pereira, and Kenta Yagi had a goal each for the Pelicans.
Marques’ seven goals is four more than any other player in the conference.
Quick turnaround
The Pelicans couldn’t celebrate long; they travel to Ridgeland, Miss., to take on Gaffa FC (2-0-0, 6 points, +10 goal differential) in a key early season showdown. Gaffa won the Gulf Coast Premiere League in 2024.
“We know that it will be our toughest test so far this season,” Logan said. “Gaffa has quality players that can cause us some problems. Key for us is to be ready for it, and continue what has given us success so far this season.”
Kickoff is at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Stribling Field, at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School in the Jackson suburb of Ridgeland.
Hardy Lewis leads Gaffa FC with three goals, while Mchi Castro, Bradford Goodrich and Alfie Lally have two apiece.
Starting lineups
PENSACOLA FC — Gabriel Mendoza, Kendrick Hernandez, Marcus Pereira, Sy Fontenot, Mohammed Alshabot, Dudu Pampolini, Rodrigo Bacci, Nacho Miranda, Aaron Boateng, Bruno Marques, Joao Ribeiro. BENCH — Axel Gravel, Baylen Young, Isaac Kamara, Colin Spuler, Kenya Magi, Max Pena-Bu, Cooper Jennings
VALDOSTA — Iori Vamori; Adrian Gallardo, Brandon Osborn, Braydon Vickers, Christopher Pelkowski; Christian Mata, Diego Maldonado, Roy Ymar, Yusuke Higuchi; Jesus Daniel, Luke Guerrier. BENCH — Alexander Lacot, Fermin Herrera