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© 2010 Baton Rouge Capitals
Lightning strikes as Mississippi Brilla take Capitals for the second time to win
Divisional Title
Mississippi Brilla 1, Baton Rouge CULT Capitals 0 (Saturday 24th July, 2010 – PDL
Southestern Division)
Having already secured a play-off place, and with Brilla enjoying a three-point lead
heading the standings going into this game, it would have taken a Capitals’ victory
by 11 clear goals to achieve Championship status.
Unrealistic as that was, and with a mind towards next weekend’s play-off matches,
Capitals put up a splendid fight in an attempt to deprive Mississippi Brilla of an
unbeaten regular season. However, it was Brilla’s night as they sealed their Championship
place with a fine 1-0 shut-out over a lively Capitals side in this top-of-the-table
end-of-season finale.
With 70 goals between them this season, one could be forgiven for thinking that this
game was going to be a goal-fest. Both teams’ midfield canceled each other out, although
there were chances to score during the first half which brought saves from Capitals’
Salvadore and Brillas’ Golner.
Twenty-five minutes into a rain-drenched second half, Brilla substitute Nathaniel
Foster turned a Phillip Buffington through-ball into the net for the only goal of
the match.
Apart from the match-winning goal, the highlight, literally, of the rain-drenched
second half was a nearby lightning bolt with which caused the match officials to
remove the teams from the field for 30 minutes . With 20 minutes of the match remaining,
the teams returned to the fray and, although Brilla decided to play keep-ball, Capitals
found their way through the Brilla defence three times, with ‘keeper Goellner saving
an almost certain goal from Ben Callon as well as further one-on-one chances from
Anderson and Wright.
Despite their endeavors, it was not to be Capitals’ night and Brilla were confirmed
as champions of the PDL Southeast Division undefeated; and incidentally, the only
team which runners-up Capitals has failed to beat this season.
Both teams now turn their attention to Southern Conference Championships, beginning
with a double-header on Friday, July 30 at Harper Davis Field at Millsaps College
in Jackson, MS. Capitals will play Mid-South Division Champions Laredo Heat at 5:00,
and Brilla will play Houston Leones, runners-up of the Mid-South Division, at 7:30.
The winners of the semi-final matches will advance to play Sunday, August 1 at 7:00
at the same venue, for the Southern Conference Title.
Ben Callon: Returning after suspension, showed a never-say-die attitude on a rain-soaked
night. Photo: Gabriel Navar
