LEBANON, Tenn. - Fresh off claiming the SSAC Regular Season Championship, Faulkner defeated the No. 3 team in the nation on the road for the second time in eight days in a 2-0 victory over Cumberland at Lindsey Donnell Stadium Tuesday afternoon in nonconference action.
Faulkner had a chance early on from the penalty spot as
Angel Ugwumba was brought down inside the penalty area just six minutes into the match. He stepped up and struck a good penalty, but Cumberland keeper Pau Gelabert made an impressive save to keep the match level.Â
Both teams had a couple of decent chances but the keepers continued to impress with five combined saves to keep it scoreless after the first 45 minutes.Â
In the 57th minute, Cumberland sprung a counterattack that had called
Andre Ferreira out of the 18. Adrien Jogerst shot from distance to try to beat the keeper who could not use his hands, but the Portuguese keeper used his head, diving out to head the ball away.Â
Just two minutes later,
Asaph Silveira dispossessed the Phoenix defender before playing Freire through the right wing. The all-time assists leader found another assist as he dribbled to the end line and squared for Ugwumba who backheeled in his 10th goal of the season.Â
Saves on either side of the pitch in the 77th ramped up the intensity of the wide open final phase of the match.Â
Just one minute after Cumberland saw a man sent off for a second yellow, the Eagles capitalized as
Leo Freire played
Konsti Witte down the right where he shot on frame and got a fortunate deflection into the back of the net to make it 2-0.Â
Faulkner improves to 3-0 against teams ranked in the top 5 this season and broke the program's record for win streak at 10 matches.Â
The Eagles await the rest of the conference slate to finish before finding out who they will face in the quarterfinal of the SSAC Men's Soccer Championship to be held at Billy D. Hilyer Stadium any time between Oct. 29-31. Details will follow when available.Â
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