Orlando SeaWolves make winning start as they defeat Brazil in enthralling encounter
There’s a new team in town and judging from the happy faces on everyone’s faces by the end of a wonderful Saturday evening, Orlando SeaWolves first season in the Major Arena Soccer League is going to be a fun one.
The level of excitement displayed by the fans was only exceeded by the action on the field and in their first game, the Orlando SeaWolves defeated the Brazilian National Mini-football team with a goal in overtime as Raphael “Rafa” Tobias golden goal secured a 3-2 victory at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee to complete a memorable evening.
Brazil scored the opening goal in the 8th minute of the first quarter when forward Elmo Neto slotted home a dead ball from close range to give the visitors the 1-0 lead. The SeaWolves first ever goal (pictured above) came just a minute before half time when Gordy Gurson volleyed home from close range to the delight of the fans.
Brazil re-took the lead in the first minute of the third quarter when Amauri capitalized on a defensive error and tapped home for the visitors to recapture the lead. The SeaWolves were not to be undone though and 4.55 mins into the third quarter, Luiz Mota (pictured above) powered home a fine volley to level things up again.
Then came all the drama and the overtime game deciding golden goal. The SeaWolves won a free kick centrally on the edge of the penalty area and Gorson played a ball out to the left side of the box for Tobias to sweep home and give the SeaWolves a first ever victory (pictured above.)
“I’ve been apprehensive about this game since I was named,” SeaWolves coach Tom Traxler (pictured above) said. “So, yeah, it’s a learning curve. … it’s a lot different. The patterns that need to be run, the work off the boards. Sometimes the hardest thing is going forward and I thought defensively, we have to be better when we’re changing.”
“It was a very big test for us,” Gurson (pictured above) said after the game. “All veterans in the league that we’re playing against that play for Brazil. We went down 1-0, knowing it’s a mental game. We stuck it out, went down and tied the game and it went into overtime and took it from there.”
Earlier in the evening, with literally the last kick of the game, Colombia dramatically defeated the U-21 Brazilian national mini-football team 6-5 in the International Challenge when goalkeeper Hugo Silva (pictured above) smacked home a free kick from the edge of the penalty area.
The Orlando SeaWolves kick off their first year in MASL on November 30 when they host the St. Louis Ambush at the Silver Spurs Arena at 7:35 p.m. Tickets for the game can be obtained at www.OrlandoSeaWolves.com
More photos for Orlando SeaWolves vs Brazil can be found here.
More photos from Brazil U21s vs Colombia are here.
