Aziz Coulibaly and Daouda Camara were on target as Junior Lone Star II came from behind to defeat New Jersey Teamsters FC 2-1 on Match Day 2 of the 2018 UPSL season.
For the second week in a row, Junior Lone Star II had to come from behind to win, this time against NJ Teamsters FC at the Monsignor Bonner High School Stadium on Saturday.
Dauoda Camara’s 20-yard free kick was the winner midway through the second half after Aziz Coulibaly had equalized from the penalty spot in the 55th minute.
Like last week, the Stars started this match slowly and duly fell behind in the 35th minute after a lapse of concentration gifted the Teamsters with an easy goal.
At the break, the visibly angry coach Bobby Ali berated his boys and demanded that they improve their level of intensity in the second half.
It seems like the boys heeded the coach’s instruction because just 10 minutes in the second half, the Stars were awarded a penalty after Kanibah Kutu-Akoi was fouled in the box. Coulibaly stepped forward and dispatched the penalty with ease, sending the goalie the wrong way for the Stars’ equalizer.
Ten minutes later, the Stars pulled themselves ahead after Kutu-Akoi was again fouled outside the box. This time, Camara stepped out and his perfectly taken free kick gave the goalie no chance as the ball hit the back of the net in the upper 90.
After the Stars took the lead, the game became more physical as Kutu-Akoi who had a great game was given his marching orders after two bookable offenses.
The Stars had to play a man down for the last 10 minutes of the match and they were able to contain the Teamsters’ pressure with goalkeeper Boubacar Keita making series of point-blank saves to maintain the score and a 2-1 victory.
With the win, the Stars moved five points clear on the UPSL American Division table with six points from two matches. They will have a bye weekend next week before travelling to New Jersey to face First Touch Elite Soccer on May 6.
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