GORHAM — Unbeaten Gorham High was going to control play on the field. That was a given.

But in the Western Class A boys’ soccer quarterfinals, South Portland High figured it still had a chance, with just the right break.

The Red Riots got it in the second half and upset the Rams 1-0 Tuesday night.

Kervens Anthoine took a feed from Ahmed Suja and scored over a charging goalkeeper with 13:16 to play.

It was one of South Portland’s few quality chances. Gorham outshot the Red Riots 23-9.

“We knew they were going to be able to carry possession,” Red Riots Coach Bryan Hoy said. “So we knew we had to counterattack. We got two very fast strikers who can handle the ball.

“If we kept punching it out to them, they would break through eventually, and we got one.”

Sixth-seeded South Portland (10-4-2) moves on to the semifinals, where it will host No. 7 Cheverus on Saturday. The two teams tied 2-2 in a game three weeks ago.

No. 3 Gorham ends the season at 11-1-3.

“We’ve played (Gorham) three or four times in the past eight years (in the playoffs) and went home losers,” Hoy said. “So this is nice.

“We played them early this year (a 2-1 Gorham win on Sept. 11), so we knew it was going to be tight … we got lucky that we got one. But it’s better than being unlucky.”

Suja and Anthoine lurked as a continual threat for the Red Riots, anytime their teammates could clear the ball.

“We just work well together,” Anthoine said.

Until that goal it just seemed a matter of time before the Rams would score. Their pressure was so much. But South Portland’s defense either came through or goalkeeper Henry Curran made one of his spectacular saves (15 in all).

“Henry is amazing. He bails us out countless times,” said defender Silas Zechman, who along with fellow seniors Bryan Currie and Jacob Brown anchored the back line.

Early in the second half, Gorham sent a flurry of chances in, including Gerek Brown’s header off the post.

Ethan Orach and Jackson Taylor sent in feeds, hoping their dangerous strikers, Jackson Fotter and Cody Elliott, would capitalize.

“I thought we played a pretty good second half,” Gorham Coach Tim King said. “We just couldn’t finish our chances. We had three or four really good chances. It just wasn’t to be.

“Their goalkeeper made a phenomenal save on Cody.”

Curran made a few stops on Elliott, one a kick save with 17 minutes to go, then two on close shots within 10 minutes left.

“Henry really kept us in the game,” Hoy said. “He’s an outstanding goalie. And our defense has done a tremendous job all year.”

It was only the second time Gorham had been held scoreless (along with a 0-0 tie with Deering).

The Red Riots are 7-1-1 in their last nine games, including the tie with Cheverus.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: KevinThomasPPH