The Ocean City Nor’easters (3-0-1) were in Leesburg, VA, Saturday night to take on the Northern Virginia FC (4-1-0). The winner of this game would take sole possession of second place.
In the game’s opening minutes, the Nor’easters had a chance to go up early on a corner kick but failed to find the net. The Nor’easters attackers played keep away while finding the right opportunity to score.
In the sixth minute, Bakary Bagayoko received the ball to take a shot. However, his shot hit the side of the net. Then Bagayoko made a cross pass to Simon Becher, but a Northern Virginia FC defender cleared the line.
In the 26th minute, Bakary Bagayoko found Simon Becher, who buried the ball into the net from the far-right corner to put Ocean City up 1-0. In the 37th minute, Kyle Galloway was taken down, resulting in a penalty kick taken by Tal Segev. Segev converted the kick into a goal for a 2-0 lead at the 38th-minute mark. The Nor’easters led 2-0 at halftime.
Ocean City received another free kick taken by Theo Quartey from the 18-yard box a minute into the second half. Quartey’s kick was headbutted in by Simon Becher for his second goal and a 3-0 lead.
In the 58th minute, Northern Virginia FC cut the lead 3-1 when Martin Ngoh’s shot out of the box went in for the goal. In the 76th minute, Northern Virginia FC received a penalty kick after an Ocean City player took a striker down. Martin Ngoh took the kick and made it a one-goal game 3-2.
In the closing minutes of the game, Ocean City looked to add an insurance goal. At the same time, Northern Virginia FC attackers pressured Ocean City’s defense. The Nor’easters hung on to a 3-2 win and took sole possession of second place.
Ocean City goalie Jahmali Waite finished the night with six saves. For Simon Becher, his two goals put him with five goals of the season, tied for second place in goals scored.
The Nor’easters will head to the South Philadelphia Super Site Wednesday, June 9th, against Philadelphia Lone Star FC at 6:30 pm.
