Brilla Falls in Southern Conference Championship

Mississippi Brilla FC hosted the Laredo Heat in the Southern Conference Championship Match on Saturday after both teams won their semi-final matches the night before. The semi-final matches were distinctly different as Laredo edged the Central Florida Kraze by a score of 1-0, their goal coming from a second half penalty kick. Mississippi Brilla, on the other hand, cruised into the conference final with a 3-0 win over the Chivas El Paso Patriots. Their game-winning goal came in just the 11th minute. However, the method by which each team got to the final would be irrelevant in the eyes of both teams, knowing that the task before them was formidable.

Laredo would prove that point in the 11th minute when Felix Garcia latched onto an Armando Begines pass, rounded Brilla goalkeeper Zach Torp, and slotted the ball home to put the visitors up 1-0.
Laredo would go down a man in the 37th minute when midfielder Gregory Mulamba was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Brilla defender Thomas Shannon.

After losing a player and having the lead, Laredo was content to sit in and hope for counter attacks. In fact, they didn’t register a shot on goal in the entire second half.  One thing they did have was a lot of attention from the referee. In addition to the ejection of Mulamba, Heat coach Israel Collazo was sent off, and six other Heat players were cautioned for fouls or time-wasting.

Brilla, on the other hand, was forced to chase the game. Despite the man-advantage, they found it difficult to penetrate the stubborn Heat defense. Chance after chance came up empty, until the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Anteneh Lemma crossed a ball to the back post. The ball found its way to David Palmer, who slotted the ball into the back of the Heat net. The crowd of 1027 roared as the Brilla team celebrated the late equalizer.

Moments later, the referee blew for the end of regulation.

Brilla started the first period of extra-time with all the momentum, and in the 97th minute, Mike Azira crossed a ball to the head of Mat Luak, who buried it in the Laredo net. It would be the only goal of the first extra time period.

Laredo looked to be a defeated team, and Brilla appeared to have the match in the bag when a hopeful Laredo cross fell to the hands of Brilla ‘keeper Zach Torp. Torp appeared to be able to collect it easily, but the ball squeezed through his hands and bounced toward the Brilla goal. Laredo’s Armando Begines was there to nod it into the unguarded net to even the score with four minutes remaining.

No one would find the net again, and the match would go to kicks from the mark.

Each of the first six scorers for both teams made their shots. Marc Joseph stepped up to take the seventh shot for Mississippi, only to see his effort crash off the crossbar.

Adan Villavicencio stepped up for Laredo and buried his shot to secure the match for the Heat.

The loss ends the season for Mississippi, and sees Laredo advance to the Final Four of the Premier Development League. It will be played at a location to be determined.