Decatur’s last second goal gets a draw vs. Auburn Mountainview

Angel Blanco nets two goals for Decatur’s first points since March 15.

By Benjamin Ray • April 4, 2024 1:45 pm

Coming into their matchup with Auburn Mountainview, Decatur’s boys soccer team just hadn’t had any luck this season.

Losing their last three games and having won just two games so far this year, their effort never wavered, and the Gators were finally rewarded with a point on March 29 with a 2-2 draw against the Lions.

In those three losses, Head Coach Brad Plemons didn’t think Decatur was being outplayed, but the ball wasn’t bouncing their way.

“Any of those three games could have gone our way … We got lucky (tonight). They hit the post two or three times and our keeper made some amazing saves. It’s nice to get a result,” he said.

In the game on the road against Auburn Mountainview, Decatur’s luck turned around. In the first five minutes, the Lions registered nine shots on target. Not a single one found the back of the net thanks to some nifty defending by Jonathan Gonzalez Hernandez, saving four shots.

“It was scary … We got lucky, we really did. I don’t know how else to say it … I told them at halftime they just about gave us heart attacks,” Plemons said.

Once the Gators outlasted the initial rush of offense from the Lions, Angel Blanco drew a foul and hit one of the best shots of the season. From 40 yards away, Blanco perfectly placed his free kick into the top right corner, beating the Lion keeper.

“He’s a very pesky, fighter of a player. He is tenacious… He’s a smaller guy and has great footwork,” Plemons said on his junior.

“That was the first time I have ever taken a free kick. I learned a lot from my brother,” Blanco said. For his first free kick, that was quite a special one. He hopes to take more for the Gators this season and his coach confirmed that he will: “I hope so,” Blanco said. In the background, Plemons said, “Oh, he will.”

The Lions responded late in the second half with a goal that beat the Decatur backline. At halftime, the two sides were dead even at 1-1.

Auburn Mountainview is an experienced team and a state tournament team a year ago. The Lions looked much better out of the halftime break, and put lot of pressure on the Gator defense.

In the 59th minute, Auburn Mountainview took a 2-1 lead over Decatur. The Lions kept threatening as well, and Decatur’s chance of leaving with a point was looking less and less: “I put my head down a little bit, but I always thought we were going to come back,” Blanco said.

The saving grace for the Gators was their resilience in the contest. There were a couple fringe opportunities, but no real chances at leveling the game until the waning moments of the game.

Jonah Jones has the skill to really put pressure on defenders with his deep throw-ins, which proved to be the edge that Decatur needed.

“I could see they weren’t setting up defensively to defend a long throw. Our guys were in the right place at the right time… It was fantastic,” Plemons said.

Jones’ deep throw-in found Andrey Kozorezov, who flicked the header toward the goal, and Blanco finished it off for his second goal of the game.

It may not count as a win in the standings, but the Gators felt like the draw was a moral victory going forward.

“Overall I thought out guys played with passion and energy. I told them if we get a point a point out of this great, a win is even better. But I am happy with a point,” Plemons said.