MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner impressed Thursday night in the season opener with a clean 5-0 victory over US Sports University. The Eagles outshot the visitors 15-1 in the first half, scoring three times in the frame to take command and start the season 1-0 for the fourth straight season and the third straight time with a shutout.
"I thought it was very positive," Head Coach Gabi de Queiroz said. "A lot of good things and positive things. We were able to test everyone and a sub lot of guys in and get ready for Saturday night. I'm very happy with the performance of the guys."
The scoring started with a bang in the 21st minute as
Nicolas Tamayo volleyed a world-class goal into the opposite top corner from Pepé Riofrio's cross that floated over the defense. Tamayo bagged his first goal of his Faulkner career with Riofrio tallying assist number seven in his career. He has five assists in the last three matches dating back to last season.
After the goal, lightning struck in the area and delayed the match nearly two hours before restarting.
Faulkner did not need much time following the restart to get rolling again as the newcomers showed out. In the 38th minute,
Gustavo Nau went on a dazzling rocketing run down the left wing, beating three defenders, and finding
Angel Ugwumba who thundered home the first goal of his career.
Ugwumba was not done there as
Iago Ramm and
Asaph Silveira linked up before Ramm crossed to Ugwumba who tapped in the third goal of the half just seconds before the abbreviated interval, scoring two in his debut match. "He's exactly what we recruited for," de Queiroz said. "A guy that can score goals for us. Really good horsepower in our front line and I'm happy he scored some goals tonight."
In the 55th minute, Silveira created space with a skillful dribble and battled through contact before curling a ball up and over the keeper's head and into the top corner to take a 4-0 lead.
US Sports University started knocking on the door a little bit with a point blank header from Alexander Gonzalez saved from out of nowhere from
Bradley Ironside and then a few moments later Henry McMurphy narrowly missed a shot from distance to keep the score 4-0.
Faulkner sealed the deal with
Joel Gomez's shot rebounding to
Konsti Witte who easily tucked away the final goal of the night in the 76th minute.
Faulkner outshot USSU 29-8 in the evening.
10 Eagles made their Faulkner debuts with six making their first starts.
The Eagles challenge Cumberland on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Phoenix are currently receiving votes in the NAIA preseason poll, but put the league on notice in their season opener, dismantling No. 6 Mobile 4-0, but de Queiroz is excited for the challenge. "It's going to be a tough game.. We're expecting a very physical, very high level, like a national tournament type game at our home field."
