Tally nips Pelicans 1-0 in clash of Top 5 sides
A substitute scored in added time to give the Battle Lions their first win in Pensacola in at least six years — and the advantage in the Florida Panhandle 850 Cup.
Braeden Paul scored the only goal Sunday in SC Tallahassee’s 1-0 win at Pensacola FC. CREDIT: SC Tallahassee
No. 5 Lions upset No. 2 Pelicans
Pensacola FC put 10 shots on target Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, visiting SC Tallahassee just two.
But the Battle Lions found the net, and the Pelicans didn’t. Tallahassee won the first leg of the Florida Panhandle Cup 1-0, moving into a three-way tie for The League for Clubs’ Gulf Coast Conference points lead.
“The game definitely lived up to the expectations,” PFC coach Dean Logan said. “We had 19 shots with 10 on target, and two hitting the post. Any team with those chances created are expected to win.
“Tallahassee had two shots on target with one being the eventual winner. That’s the way the game goes sometimes.”
Braeden Paul got the winner for Tallahassee in the first minute of second half stoppage time. Logan said a defensive lapse made the goal possible.
“We were not organized defensively, in the middle left outside channel,” he explained. “This allowed Tallahassee to penetrate into the center middle channel, where a ball was played in behind our center backs. The Tallahassee player was not closed down at speed, and got a shot off inside our box, which was the decider.”
A Pensacola player had recorded a hat trick, three goals scored, in each of the Pelicans’ first three matches before Sunday’s blanking. Bruno Marques accomplished the feat against Valdosta FC and Sowegans SC, and Sy Fontenot scored three Wednesday at Gaffa FC in Ridgeland, Miss., a suburb of Jackson.
Despite not netting a goal, Logan said he was pleased with the attack.
“Both Bruno and Sy were really effective for us, and created numerous goalscoring chances. The Tallahassee goalkeeper did an amazing job to deny them from scoring with some crucial saves,” he said. “Although it seemed like they were contained, they created a lot of opportunities for other players who also had some good chances on goal. We just couldn’t finish.”
The League for Clubs rankings
Pensacola (3-1-0, 9 points, +14 goal differential) was ranked second among TLfC’s 52 teams nationally before the match, behind just FC Davis (9-0-0) of the NorCal Conference.
“It’s always an honor to be recognized,” Logan said of the attention the Pelicans have received. “I have worked really hard at creating a high-level standard around our club. So what you see on the field is due to the work that the players have put in within our environment. All credit to them for trusting in what we do here, which they have carried onto the field. We are really happy to be ranked that high.”
Tallahassee (3-0, 9 points, +11) was fifth nationally.
Gaffa FC (3-1-0, 9 points, +10) defeated Gulf Coast United 2-0 in Gulfport, Miss., to draw even with the Pelicans and Lions in the conference points race (Gaffa and Pensacola each have played four matches while Tallahassee has played just three). Pensacola has a conference-best points differential of +14.
In Saturday’s other Gulf Coast Conference match, Sowegans SC (1-2-0, 3 points, -7) outscored Valdosta FC (0-3-0, 0 points, -16) 4-0.
Growing rivalry
The match is the latest in the ongoing rivalry between the Pelicans and Lions; Tallahassee’s black-and-gold colors dotted the crowd Sunday.
“The rivalry has grown for sure,” Logan said. “It’s actually a good thing for local soccer. It’s nice to see fans from both clubs able to appreciate and enjoy high level soccer.”
The Pensacola coach said Sunday’s loss was the first to Tallahassee since he became the Pelicans’ head coach in 2021. Competition for the Florida Panhandle 850 Cup has contributed to the rivalry. The Pelicans have held the cup since 2021, but will need to win by at least two goals when the teams meet Wednesday, June 11, at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee, to keep it.
“This Cup means a lot to us,” Logan said. “It’s one of our season objectives. We want to win it every year. We have had to work really hard for it, and this year we will do the same.
“So far Tallahassee has the edge after this game, but we will be ready when we go to their place for that next game.”
Logan said the team with the higher aggregate score after both matches will earn the trophy; if the aggregate score is even, a penalty shootout will decide the winner. The match would be scored a tie for league points, he added, regardless of which team wins the shootout.
“Credit to (the Lions) for coming to us and getting that result,” Logan said. “Our guys are in good spirits, and that game in the reverse fixture will be something to be a part of.”
Starting lineups
PENSACOLA FC — Cooper Jennings, Kendrick Hernandez, Michael Lightbourne, Sy Fontenot, Aaron Boateng, Rodrigo Bacci, Mohammed Alshabot, Bruno Marques, Marcus Pereira, Joao Ribeiro, Eduardo Pampolini. BENCH — Axel Gravel, Baylen Young, Carson Hickock, Isaac Machado, Tyrike Andrews, Kenya Yagi, Gabriel Mendoza
TALLAHASSEE — Julian Marcos, Luciano Schiaffini, Dillon Hunter, Danny Chhetri, Allbranley Gue, Zuri Robertson, Kasper Wollstein, Bennett Mitchell, Jakob Santiago, Joseph Warren, Connor Parry. BENCH — Brock Williams, Mirai Sato, Braeden Paul, Jiang Ziyue, George Roberts, Diego Sanchez, Caleb Elistene