Shreveport United Outlasts Red River FC

Shreveport United is heading into the playoffs on a 5-2 win over Red River FC at Centenary’s Mayo field on Saturday afternoon. 

This win for United capped a second half of the season record of 4-0-1.   “We’ve been in great form since the Krewe game where we went down with a weakened squad where we lost 8-0,” said Shreveport United Coach Gary McCormick.  “From there we went six games with five wins and a tie.  It’s a credit to the fellows who showed true character when behind and come back and tied.  We’ve been ahead and allowed teams to come back into the game.  With the character we’ve shown, we’ve been able to see teams off and that’s what happened today.  It was a tough game today with the heat at 5 o’clock on the turf.  You could see the tired legs on both squads.  We played today with no pressure on us and you could see that.  It was a good game.  Both teams worked very hard.”

The score was not reflective of how pesky the  Black Bears were against United.   

“We came in wanting a win, of course, but we were just frustrated,” Red River coach Joseph Winningham said. “Second half we were given time to play to some who normally didn’t get to play.  It doesn’t whether we win or lose, we don’t go on.  The first half was good, it was close.  Once we brought in some of the second line, that’s where your experience comes in.  We’ve got to get some of these younger ones ready.”

Shreveport United started fast against Red River and controlled possession.  They continued the formula that’s been working for them of maintaining possession and peppering substitute goalkeeper Che Walcott for Red River who found out a couple of hours before the game that he would be the goalie. 

“We didn’t have either one of our keepers,” Red River coach Joseph Winningham said.   “We didn’t know that until a couple of hours for the game.  He (Walcott) didn’t have time to mentally prepare.

Adam Bihler opened the lead for Shreveport United scoring in the 32nd minute.    The United backline gave way finally and Red River started to attack.  A foul at the top of the box gave Rafa Muniz a free-kick which burned the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.   

United didn’t allow the riff-raff long as a cross to Bihler who headed the goal the next minute to give United the 2-1  lead into halftime.  

United pushed to take the game out of hands from Black Bears as Bruno Palmeri picked up the goal in the 50th minute to take the two-goal lead.  Red River closed the gap in the 65th minute with a Daniel Maihofler goal.  The celebration wasn’t allowed for long as Palmeri netted a second goal just less than two minutes later to take the 4-2 lead.  United made sure they kept their distance from the pesky Black Bears by adding an insurance goal in the 77th minute by Thomas Sanford.  United holds on for the win.  

Red River ended their inaugural season at 3-4-3 and finishing fourth in the Western Conference.  Considering each team they’ve played against has been together for at least two years, the finish was good for the Black Bears.  “It’s not what we wanted, but we’re playing against the team that has been playing together,” Winningham said. “Everyone wants to say we’re the same group as BOCA (FC Knights), but we’re not.  Practices are different, the focus is different.  Some might be similar in style but it’s different.  The majority of our players are different.  For a new team, we won some, we tied some, and we lost some.  At the end of the day, we had some fun and we build from here.  We could’ve come in here and not won anything.  It’s a brand new team.  We’ve got guys that are 17 and we’ve got guys that are 35.  That’s a big spread of experience.”  Red River is looking toward keeping the ball rolling on the pitch as they look to play In the fall.

Shreveport United will not rest and relax because they have at least one more match for the postseason.  United clinched their first playoff berth last week.  Shreveport United looks to take the fifth seed in the playoffs and will have to be on the road to take on Gulf Coast Rangers in Daphne, Alabama on Saturday in the quarterfinals.  Gulf Coast Rangers finished also with 20 points for the season, but the goal difference gives them the higher seed.  Rangers have gone 3-1-1 in their last five matches.  The top scorer for the Rangers is Joshua Bynoe with eight goals for the season.   United is excited about the opportunity, though.  “I think it’s absolutely fantastic,” said McCormick.  “I think it’s a testament to the boys this season.  We’ve beaten the top team in the league even across both conferences.  I think the way our boys are playing, we’re not afraid of anyone.  We pick our moments when to play, when not to play.  We’re very tough to break down with our style of play.  In the last few games, we have been tactically brilliant.  We made the right substitutions at the right time and brought in fresh legs to kill teams off.”