Rivals Reunite: Southside Faces Off with Woodland

No love is lost between Southside FC and Woodland FC in the rivalry that has been brewing since last year. Not only is Woodland the only team from last season to have beaten Southside in both fixtures, but they are also the only team in club history to hold Southside goalless in a match. Coming into Tuesday night’s match, Southside had a lot to play for on multiple fronts.

Match day five was setting itself up to be an exciting game as both teams were coming off a loss, hungry for a win. In addition, both teams were motivated to maintain their record of zero back-to-back defeats. As the whistle blew to signal the start of the match, an all too familiar slow start from Southside found them behind within the first ten minutes of the match. While the team was looking to collect their thoughts, another goal by Woodland brought them up 2-0 before twenty-five minutes had been played.

Finally, Southside began to find their composure leading to a few opportunities in the final twenty minutes of the first half. Just before halftime, Trey was able to link up with Guili netting a goal in the forty-third minute of the match making it 2-1.

During the halftime talk, the team’s response was one of determination. A halftime change saw Roma entering the match. His confidence on the ball would be what the team needed to make a renewed effort in the second half.

Southside turned up the pressure as they were aiming to win the match. The half had barely begun when Roma saw an opportunity to press the defender forcing a turnover. Tony used this opportunity to get the ball outside the eighteen yard box,dribbling around the keeper to score.

After several minutes of back-and-forth possession, Woodland would find themselves a chance to score from about twenty yards out on a clinical strike. And just like that, Southside found themselves trailing again with about ten minutes left in the match. Southside was desperate for a moment of inspiration to salvage the game. Sure enough that opportunity came through Roma, who after dribbling thirty yards past four defenders leveled the score at 3 all.

Southside maintained this until the final whistle, giving them their first point off Woodland. While Southside wished to have all three points, this draw was significant in keeping themselves within distance of the title race.

With this result, Southside finds themselves dropping to fifth place in the league standing on eight points, since Liberty (nine points) and Crown Villa (nine points) won their matches on Tuesday.

We quickly turn our attention to Friday as we take on Real Overland Park on Friday, May 2, at 6 PM. Come out to show your support in person or tune into our livestream on the YouTube channel!