July 17, 2010 – New Orleans, LA

Despite conceding an early goal to the New Orleans Jesters, Mississippi Brilla FC fought back to earn a 2-1 victory and clinch their second straight trip to the playoffs.

Brilla controlled the first few minutes before the Jesters wrestled control of the match, capitalizing on a Brilla mistake in the 12th minute when Richard Dixon tripped up his man on the edge of the Brilla penalty area to give away a penalty kick. Jesters’ midfielder Carl Reynolds slammed the ball home from the spot to give the Jesters the lead.

Brilla slowly began creating more opportunities and knotted the score at one each when Nick Rich found a streaking Ahmad Ihmeidan who slotted it by Jesters’ goalkeeper, Andrew Tarbell.

Neither team was able to find a second goal in the first half, despite good chances created by both.

Brilla midfielder Lucas Paulini put Mississippi in front for good in the 47th minute when he chased down a deflected shot from Mike Azira. Paulini coolly volleyed it home from close range in the second minute of the second half.
 
The next 45 minutes would be a back and forth affair with both teams having golden opportunities to score, but neither team was able to capitalize.

New Orleans would throw everyone forward for the last ten minutes and Mississippi did everything they could to just hold on and keep knocking the ball out of danger.

The Mississippi defense held with some excellent goalkeeping from Andy Goeller, and when the referee blew for the end of the match, Brilla was able to celebrate a second straight trip to the playoffs.

In another divisional match, the Baton Rouge Capitals defeated the Ft. Lauderdale Schulz Academy 3-0 to lock up the other Southeastern division playoff berth. Mississippi and Baton Rouge will meet next Saturday to finally decide the number one playoff seed. Tonight’s win keeps Brilla undefeated with a record of 9-0-3 while Baton Rouge is 9-1-3.

Before that match, Brilla will host the Central Florida Kraze Thursday, July 22 at 7:00 PM at Harper Davis Field at Millsaps College in Jackson. A win there would virtually lock down the Division Championship based on the goal differential lead Mississippi holds over Baton Rouge.