DES MOINES, IA - Grand View saw an early lead slip away in a 2-1 loss to No. 6 Cumberland (TN) on its home field, as the Phoenix answered a fast Vikings start with a penalty-kick equalizer and a second-half winner to escape with a road win.
Grand View wasted little time making its mark. Just under seven minutes in,
Anthony Ulloa buried the first goal of his season off a feed from
Hayato Yoshitake for a 1-0 lead. Cumberland answered in the 12th minute, converting a penalty kick to level it at 1-1.
The rest of the first half stayed tight.
Herman Furumo sailed a chance high for Grand View in the 21st minute, and
Justin Figaroa picked up a yellow card in the 35th as Cumberland was whistled for a team caution of its own. Goalkeeper
Luis Helm turned away a Cumberland shot on frame in the 36th minute, and the Phoenix closed the half with a pair of corner kicks, but it stayed 1-1 at the break.
Ulloa nearly put Grand View back in front early in the second half, curling a shot just wide right in the 57th minute.
Dylan Hunston and Yoshitake both picked up yellow cards for the Vikings before Cumberland struck the decisive blow in the 64th minute, taking a 2-1 lead it wouldn't relinquish.
Grand View pushed back, turning to
Kais Sabic,
Pau Gonzalez,
Eishu Nishizono and
Manny Sanchez off the bench, and
Takumi Kumakura had a good look in the 71st minute that just missed high. Cumberland kept generating chances of its own down the stretch, but Helm stood tall, finishing with four saves on the day.
The finish got chaotic: Cumberland picked up a yellow card in the 84th minute, then had a player sent off in the 85th, playing the final stretch a man down.
Seth Comer was booked for Grand View as the Vikings pressed for an equalizer, but Cumberland held on for the 2-1 win.
Ulloa's first goal of the year and Helm's four-save effort were the clear bright spots in a game Grand View had chances to win before Cumberland's second-half surge proved decisive.
SCORING SUMMARY
MATCH NOTES
- Shots on goal: Cumberland 4, Grand View 0
- Saves: Luis Helm (Grand View) 4
- Corner kicks: Cumberland 3, Grand View 1
- Cautions: Grand View 4 (Figaroa, Hunston, Yoshitake, Comer); Cumberland 1 team card + 2 individual
- Red cards: Cumberland 1
WHATS NEXT?
Grand View returns to the pitch Monday, September 7th where they will wrap up the Fong's Pizza Classic against Concordia University.
