Written By: Ryan Flynn
A 90th minute goal from Roberto Burlew was not enough to mount a comeback for Sarasota Paradise as they fell 3-1 to AV Alta on Wednesday night.
Sarasota generated several chances after going down by a goal in the fifth minute, having shots by Chandler O’Dwyer and Declan Watters saved by Alta keeper Djibril Doumbia. They conceded a second goal inside twenty minutes to go down two, despite showing promise in the final third. Sarasota nearly cut the lead in half in the 40th minute when a cross from Watters fell perfectly to Bolanos in front of the goal, but it was saved by a lunging Doumbia.
Sarasota continued to press in the second half, finding the opponents final third on several occasions but unable to convert. Alta made it 3-0 in the 76th, and it looked to finish that way until Beurlew knocked home a header in the 90th minute to make it 3-1, his first of the season.
Despite the loss, Sarasota had two players reach a historic milestone, as both Chandler O’Dwyer and Declan Watters reached 5,000 career minutes played in USL League One.
Postgame Thoughts
“Tough loss tonight against a very good team. We had a few critical lapses in our defending tonight and they took their few chances very well, all credit to them. I’m proud of our effort to press them for 90+ minutes, and we lean on that same persistence to recover and prepare for the matchup against league-leading Union Omaha this Saturday. We are looking forward to being back in front of our fans!” – Mika Elovaara, Head Coach
STATS TO KNOW
Anderson Rosa had 6 interceptions, 5 tackles in the game
Jorgen Petterson had a 60% challenge win rate on defense
UP NEXT
Sarasota returns home to face league leaders Union Omaha on Saturday, June 13.