Seattle Sounders FC 2 continued the recent trend of crucial late goals against Western Conference opponents Oklahoma Energy FC on Sunday, grabbing a last-second goal from defender Tony Alfaro to salvage a 2-2 draw.
S2 battled back from a goal down twice on the night to earn a crucial point on the road in the continued push for the playoffs.
Oklahoma City piled on the pressure in the opening 15 minutes of the match, with S2 goalkeeper Charlie Lyon producing a sprawling save from a close range shot in the 3rd minute. However, Energy FC would find the back of the net just eight minutes later when midfielder Kyle Hyland struck a swerving shot to the far post, leaving Lyon with no chance to make a save.
The Rave Green leveled the score with a goal of their own in the second half, courtesy of excellent set piece service from Irvin Parra. The newest signing for S2 whipped in a dangerous in-swinger that left the Energy FC goalkeeper rooted to his line, and Homegrown Striker Victor Mansaray was on hand to poke home for his fifth goal of the year.
Energy FC jumped ahead once again in the 58th minute on a strike from Linus Olsson. A hopeful long-ball over the top saw Olsson beat S2’s offside trap before settling the aerial pass and firing a shot past the onrushing Lyon.
Then came Alfaro’s heroics in the last minute of second-half stoppage time. OKC failed to clear a long throw in from Parra, and the ball fell kindly to the feet of Alfaro, who made no mistake with his left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner.
The result continues S2’s four-match unbeaten run, and leaves the Rave Green just two points off the final playoff spot with two games remaining. S2 is back in action away to Colorado Springs Switchbacks on Saturday, Sept. 17 (6:00 p.m. PT, live stream on SoundersFC.com).
