Rodriguez Keeps Seacoast United's Playoff Hopes Alive
Rodriguez Keeps Seacoast United's Playoff Hopes Alive
The Phantoms will play Vermont Green FC in the round of 16 of the USL League 2 playoffs.
Following a lackluster performance, Taig Healy hit the crossbar on a free-kick for Zemedkun Rodriguez to score in the 78th minute. The Phantoms beat the Ocean City Nor’easters 1-0 in the round of 32 and will play Vermont Green FC in the next round.
“It was a tough game,” said Phantoms head coach Alex Ryan. “No team really had control of the match and I don’t think either team played particularly well.”
The Phantoms went out without star forward Marco dos Santos and right-back Mitch Varley. In dos Santos’ absence, winger Terry Makedika floated in behind striker Ibrahim Condé to help Healy in between the lines.
In the 24th minute, Healy whipped in a free kick from the right side of the Nor’easter’s box. Nor’easter goalkeeper Nathanael Sallah punched out Healy’s cross only as far as Shun Kushima, who headed the ball onto the crossbar.
The Nor’easters then took the front foot catching Harrison Bertos and So Nishikawa in transitions.
In the 33rd minute, Nor’easters center-back Agustin Resch leaped over the Phantom’s defense and got onto the end of a free-kick before smashing the ball onto the crossbar.
Despite the pressure, the Phantoms’ defense stepped up and handled the Nor’easters’ attacks. In the 39th minute, Charles Strine and Isaac Heffess blocked consecutive shots before another shot went wide.
At halftime, Alfred Baafi replaced Kushima and Sam White dropped into midfield.
“We were trying to tip the balance and be more offensive with our changes,” said Ryan. “Eventually Rodriguez came on and we got what we wanted.”
Despite the changes, the Phantoms struggled to create chances while the Nor’easters kept looking to get in behind.
In the 72nd minute, Bertos came off for being on a yellow card, and Rodriguez came on.
Five minutes later, Rodriguez buried the ball into the back of the goal after Healy hit the crossbar from a free-kick.
“We knew it would come down to a rebound or a deflection or some sort of half chance,” Ryan said. “Rodriguez got on the end of the rebound and scored.”
Seacoast United continues its playoff run against Vermont Green FC on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
“We’re excited to play them again,” Ryan said. “We’ve gotten the best of them so far, but we have to buckle up because it’s going to be a tight and cagey affair.”