Payless Supermarkets Strykers Slip Past Southern Cobras

[March 22, 2015 – Harmon, Guam] – The Payless Supermarkets Strykers FC prevented another Budweiser Soccer League upset after squeaking past the surging Southern Cobras 5-4 in a Week 18 Division I match at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The Cobras looked poised to take down the league’s second-ranked team after defeating league leaders Rovers FC just a week before, but unfortunate incidents against the team in the match’s waning minutes helped the Strykers slip by the southern team in stoppage time.

With the score knotted at 3-3 at halftime, the Cobras struck first in the deciding half. About 20 minutes in, the Cobras’ Ashton Surber took a pass from Jeremy Copple and chipped the ball over Strykers goalkeeper Julius Campos to give his team a 4-3 advantage.

About 15 minutes later, Marlon Evans looked to complete a similar play for the Strykers, but his shot hit the crossbar and landed back in play. Cobras’ defender Jason Miller rushed to clear the ball, but play was eventually stopped after the shot was deemed a goal by match referees for the 4-4 score.

Moments later, the Cobras had an opportunity to regain the advantage after Strykers right back Dylan Naputi collided with goalkeeper Julius Campos, as both were trying to prevent Ashton Surber from gaining possession of the ball, but the whistle was blown to call a foul on the Cobras striker on the play.

With the clock already past the 90-minute mark, Ashton Surber was ejected from the match after expressing his frustration to a teammate for mishandling the ball on a play, resulting in a 10-man Cobras team to finish off the match.

Two minutes later, the Strykers’ Ricky Katsumata managed the eventual game-winner with a shot from the left side to the opposite post.

Min Choi scored two of the Strykers’ other goals. The Strykers also benefited from a Cobras own goal in the 44th minute. The Cobras’ Ashton Surber finished with a hat trick and teammate Donovan Reyes scored the team’s other goal.