Decatur soccer gets two late goals to edge Todd Beamer

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, April 1, 2026

After a loss to the league leading Auburn Mountainview Lions, Decatur High School’s boys soccer team was faced with their regional rival in Todd Beamer High School — a team looking to down the Gators and find their own way this season under first year head coach Dennis Kozerezov.

But Decatur found a late winner and an added insurance goal in stoppage time to defeat the Titans, 3-1, on March 31.

“It was good to see the group respond after the last loss. I told them after the loss we have to make sure to be ready to go to make a statement after that loss,” head coach Dom Dismuke said. “I wanted to see a better response, but a win is a win and you gotta take ‘em how you get ‘em.”

Decatur before the Mountainview loss was level on points with the Lions and had real aspirations of a league championship. But the focus had to come down to Todd Beamer, an opponent that brings out the best in Decatur.

“I look forward to it a lot. I have friends and cousins on that team. It was competitive, fun to play,” Decatur junior Shukri Shukurov said.

The two sides were tied late in the second half at 1-1, but Titan junior Ilyaz Veysalov picked up his second yellow card, which turned red. Veysalov’s 74th minute removal forced Todd Beamer to play with 10 players, and Decatur rightfully took advantage.

In the 78th minute, a free kick taken by Decatur’s Jose Bonilla Ruiz was deflected to the ground and Shukri Shukurov kicked it into the back of the net. It was Shukurov’s first goal in a game in four years, and a defender who was a standout last season is making his mark once again.

“It was amazing, I got my first goal in four years. It was amazing, I hit the ‘Siu’ celebration,” Shukurov said as he imitated Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration.

Dismuke has coached and experienced extremely high levels of soccer, and he hasn’t seen a player the talent of Shukurov very often.

“Last year I felt like he was the best center back in the league as a sophomore. He has the potential to take the game as far as he wants to take it,” Dismuke said. “He’s a player that will reach major heights in this game. He is the best center back that I have ever coached. He’s one of the best center backs I have seen at the youth level.”

The Gators opened the scoring in the first half in the 14th minute, when the Titans’ goalkeeper kicked a misguided pass right to Diego Martinez-Rios, who made no mistake and found the back of the net.

Both sides traded chances in the first half, but neither side was able to capitalize. In the second half, another defensive miscue left Decatur vulnerable, and Jesus Urdaneta Veliz hit a fantastic shot to beat both the Decatur defense and Emmanuel Barbosa.

Barbosa is locked in a position battle with Jamie Lewis to take the majority of the varsity reps. But Dismuke sees his entire lineup as a battle ground, where whoever wants a spot has to earn it.

“The team overall has been very competitive,” Dismuke said. “Spots are earned, Fernando has six goals in six games. If he’s not doing the right things, he has to come off. My biggest thing is we’ve got to make sure we are doing the right things.”

Decatur’s attack was constant on the Titan defenders with the game tied at 1-1. But in the final moments of the game, after the red card was given, the Gators smelled blood in the water. Shukrov’s goal would have been enough for the Gators, but they added a third goal to their ledger.

Abdulahi Daar capped off Decatur’s winning performance with a goal of his own in stoppage time for the 3-1 win over Todd Beamer.

“Obviously you want to score as many goals as you can and put the game to bed early, but sometimes it doesn’t go that way. I told the guys at halftime this was the best game we have had in terms of us keeping the ball, passing and moving,” Dismuke said. “It’s our first game since TJ with three goals. I am hoping moving forward we can start adding more goals on the board.”

Decatur will take on White River on the road April 3 while Todd Beamer will play Auburn Mountainview at Federal Way Memorial Field on April 3.