The latest finish in Lionsbridge FC history was well worth the wait.
In a home match that didn’t end until about 1:35 a.m. Saturday, the Lions overcame a two-goal deficit to win the Eastern Conference championship and advance to USL League Two’s national semifinals. They rallied past the Ocean City Nor’easters of New Jersey 4-2 in extra time at Christopher Newport’s TowneBank Stadium in Newport News.
Andrew Bennett, a Florida International player from England, had three assists. Sam Hall’s header in the 95th minute, the fifth minute of extra time, broke a 2-2 tie for the Lions, who registered their third playoff victory this year after never previously winning a playoff match.
On a seven-match winning streak, Lionsbridge will return to CNU at 7 p.m. Sunday for a national semifinal against The Villages FC of central Florida.
Lionsbridge quickly fell behind as the Nor’easters’ Colin Veltri pounced on a loose ball in the box and scored in the sixth minute.Ocean City moved ahead 2-0 in the 18th minute as Nick Pariano converted an Alessandro Arlotti assist after a Lionsbridge turnover.
Facing a rare two-goal home deficit, the Lions (13-2-3) responded. Adam Kirkwood halved the deficit in the 31st minute off a Bennett assist. Christian Hatley then tied the score in the 34th minute.
A key save by goalkeeper Tyler Hogan got Lionsbridge to extra time. Hall’s header of a Bennett corner kick put Lionsbridge ahead 3-2 in the 95th minute.
Another Bennett pass, in the 111th minute to Celestin Blondel, gave the Lions a two-goal advantage, and they held on for the victory.
The action went late because of heat.
The Villages and Little Rock Rangers of Arkansas were supposed to start their Southern Conference championship game at 5 p.m., but they didn’t begin until 7:20 because of safety concerns with temperatures in the 90s.
They played to a 1-1 draw through 90 regulation minutes and 30 extra minutes. The Villages then went 5 for 5 in penalty kicks for a 5-3 shootout victory.
The Villages moved ahead in the 76th minute as Matheus Ferreira headed in Lucas Mauro’s corner kick. With the clock about to expire, Little Rock pulled even as Ethan Blake scored late in stoppage time.
After 30 scoreless minutes of extra time, the Florida squad didn’t miss its spot kicks. Little Rock’s Marvin Sibanda missed wide right in the first round, and his team couldn’t catch up.
