Late goals entertain crowd as Lakeland Tropics and North County United share the spoils
Four goals in the final fifteen minutes weren’t enough to decide a winner as the Lakeland Tropics and North County United shared the points with a 3-3 draw in their USL Premier Development League soccer game Sunday night at Bryant Stadium.
Tropics captain Ricardo Diegues saved a point for Lakeland with a lofted chip from 12 yards out to the left of the goal that floated into the far corner of the net just before added time. United had taken a 3-2 lead from goals by Ignacio Diaz and Andrew Booth before Diegues, who has scored in each of Lakeland’s first three games, drew things level for the third time in the evening in the 88th minute.
Lakeland’s Ramzi Toure started the late-game goal barrage with a cross that turned into an own-goal giving the Tropics a 2-1 lead in the 75th minute.
The Tropics scored early when Juan Tejada (pictured above) picked up a spilled rebound by North County goalkeeper Marcellin Goheir and slotted home less than 10 minutes in.
North County’s Joseph O’Sullivan tied things up with about six minutes minutes to go in the half as he headed home a long cross beyond the reach of Tropics keeper Gustavo Vasconcelos. Lakeland’s Matheus Assumpcao almost grabbed the lead back just before the break as his sharp angled shot glanced the cross bar and back into play.
The win now moves the Tropics into sole possession of second place in the PDL southeastern division with seven points, three behind SIMA Aguilas (3-0-1) and one ahead of The Villages SC (2-0-0).
Sunday starts a busy week for the Tropics, who will travel Wednesday to meet Weston FC before returning next Saturday to Bryant Stadium for a 7 p.m. start against IMG Academy Bradenton.
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