Late Goal Pushes Woodland to the Brink

Woodland FC were two minutes away from an incredible fight back that turned into a mortal wound in their season. The Royals were held at Real Overland Park by a score of 2-2 in blustery winds and controversial officiating.

The match began with driving rain and wind making every pass, touch, shot, and save a perilous endeavor. Both teams struggled to make chances happen as the game descended into an ugly rock fight in midfield.

The breakthrough would come when Real Overland Park counter-attacked well down the Woodland right and managed to squeeze a ball past the Woodland keeper, Joe Keeven to give Overland Park the shocking 1-0 lead. Woodland, facing many injuries to their key players, were dealth another blow to their midfield when Diego Mendoza suffered a broken ankle from a disgusting tackle in the midfield. Woodland was forced to make changes early. Despite their renewed efforts in mounting a comeback, Woodland went into the half down 1-0.

Early in the second half, it became apparent that Overland Park were content to settle for a draw as the time-wasting began with every ball out of bounds. But Woodland would show their mettle as captain Chandler Givler turned in midfield and played an excellent through-ball to Brett Jackson, who beat his man and fired it low past the keeper. 1-1.

Woodland, desperate for a win and needing to keep pace with Olathe, shuffled their formation around and pushed for the go-ahead goal. They would find it when Johnathan Young broke through the midfield and played Elluan Martins Gomes through on goal. He cut it back and curled it past the keeper with 10 minutes to go to give Woodland the lead.

With five minutes to go in the game, Joseph Caughron was through on goal and was taken out from behind by an Overland Park tackle. The center referee mysteriously claimed the Overland Park player "got the ball," while awarding a goal kick, a decision that baffled the Royals and the pro-Woodland crowd, despite being on the road.

And then disaster struck and put Woodland's title hopes on life support. A bouncing ball was misjudged by Johnathan Young. The Overland Park attacker played the ball around him and into the box. Young desperately tried to recover and put in a difficult challenge, and with 100 seconds to go in the game, the referee whistled for a penalty kick. Joe Keeven came within a whisker of salvaging the game, but the points were to be shared.

Woodland now headed to their Friday math against league leaders Olathe United knowing that anything but a win would all but doom their title hopes.

You can watch the math replay on our YouTube channel!

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