New Orleans, LA (May 8th) – The 6th edition of the Gulf Coast Premier League kicked off this weekend with Crescent City FC traveling to the Florida Panhandle to take on Pensacola FC to start their 2022 campaign. Both clubs met in 2021 in New Orleans where the home crowd left with a pleased 4-2 victory.
On a beautiful Saturday night in Pensacola CCFC would come into the game having yet to find the back of the net, failing to do so in their first two friendlies to start the season.
“We had a rough go of it last week” said Head Coach, Matt Millet. “Finding our rhythm going forward has been our biggest challenge. We needed to improve in this area for sure.”
The game kicked off with both teams getting acclimated with each other, keeping the game mostly in the middle of the park. After settling in, Pensacola FC started gaining ground, putting CCFC keeper, Jose Santos Jr., to the test. The New Orleans native did his part keeping the home team at bay with two key saves in the 20th and 26th minute. One being an acrobatic display reaching the corner just in time. The 30th minute would see the home team catch CCFC sleeping on a counter attack and put the Florida club up 1-0.
Another blow to the CCFC front as the attacking drought continued for much of the first half. Some light would be shed in the 35th minute after a counter attack for the New Orleans crew would lead to Erick Lara finding Cristian Canales on top of the 6 for a great header that would tie the game 1-1.
Coming out in the second half the home team seem to regain some steam and put CCFC on their heels for a good portion of the first 15 minutes, putting the CCFC keeper yet again to the test a few more times. In the 64th minute, CCFC would get their best chance on goal after advancing into the Pensacola 18 in a 3v2 situation, but the final ball would fall short of the streaking attacker. The final minutes of the second half showed fatigue for both sides with chances and challenges becoming more desperate by each passing minute. The game would end 1-1.
Crescent City FC will host their GCPL home opener vs. Gaffa FC at Holy Cross Field (5500 Paris Ave) Sunday on May 22nd for 5:00 PM kickoff. Tickets can be purchased here.
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