Portland, Scarborough settle for a draw

SCARBOROUGH—If you were looking for an illustration of where Class A South boys’ soccer stands at the midway point of the 2024 season, all you had to do was tune in to Saturday’s showdown at the Kippy Mitchell Sports Complex between the host Scarborough Red Storm and their rival, the Portland Bulldogs.

That’s because you got 90 minutes of hard-fought action, with no separation between the teams.

Par for the course this fall.

The Red Storm struck first when junior Khalil Ghosheh scored with 8:44 to go in the first half, but in the final minute before halftime, the Bulldogs drew even, when junior captain Baptista Muanda buried a shot.

Portland had ample opportunity to steal victory in regulation but couldn’t finish and despite some great chances, Scarborough couldn’t score in either of the two five-minute, “sudden victory” overtimes and the teams ultimately settled for a 1-1 draw.

Both squads are now 5-1-1 on the season and the fun is just beginning.

“I absolutely think it’s a fair result,” said Bulldogs’ veteran coach Rocco Frenzilli, who remained stuck on 299 career victories. “You want to win, but at the same time, you don’t want to lose. I felt like neither team deserved to lose today. It was an evenly played game. We went back-and-forth. We smashed each other in the mouth and got back up.”

“It was a good game, just what we expected,” said longtime Red Storm coach Mark Diaz, who has 327 victories of his own in his 26 seasons. “Two great teams, a playoff atmosphere. I’m pretty happy with our effort today. We’d like to get the (Heal Points), but it was just the first round and we’ll respond to it.”

Too close to call

Portland has made a habit out of playing more than 80 minutes in the early going, surviving visiting rival Deering in the opener, 1-0, in overtime, then prevailing in overtime at South Portland (1-0) and in double-OT over visiting Falmouth (2-1). The Bulldogs then took care of visiting Bonny Eagle (7-1) and host Massabesic (8-0) in regulation before falling at Gorham, 2-1.

Scarborough, meanwhile, won its first four games, three of them coming on the road. After rallying for a 2-1 victory at South Portland, the Red Storm defeated host Marshwood (2-1), then blanked visiting powerhouse Gorham (3-0) before rolling at Thornton Academy (8-1). The Red Storm fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 3-2 setback at Falmouth, then got back on track Wednesday with an 8-0 home victory over Sanford.

A year ago, the Bulldogs won at Scarborough in the regular season, 3-0, then eked out a 1-0 double-overtime victory in the quarterfinals.

Saturday, on a seasonably warm afternoon (the kickoff temperature was 70 degrees and it only got warmer from there), both teams had ample opportunities to earn victory, but ultimately, there would be no resolution.

Portland senior Paulo Joao and Scarborough senior Matthew Booth fight for possession early in the teams’ 1-1 draw Saturday. Hoffer photos.

The Red Storm got the game’s first chance in the first minute, as Ghosheh played a ball through a defender’s legs to senior Cooper Mallar, but Mallar’s bid was saved by Bulldogs’ senior goalkeeper Marco Cifuentes-Robles.

After senior Paulo Joao missed just high for Portland, Scarborough had a couple looks, but Bulldogs’ senior captain Ronan Mas blocked a shot from Mallar in the box after a turnover, then Ghosheh’s header off a throw from junior Carter Blanche went just wide.

Portland then looked to go on top, but a Mas free kick which landed in the box was cleared, then after breaking free after a Red Storm defender slipped on the turf, senior David Mawangu was denied by Scarborough senior goalkeeper Seamus Corry.

With 20 minutes left in the half, the Red Storm had a golden opportunity to grab the lead, as Ghosheh got free in the box, but Cifuentes-Robles dove and made a tremendous save with his right hand, setting up a Scarborough corner which didn’t result in a shot.

After junior Denver Bachman sent a free kick over the wall but just wide, senior Ibrahim Jabril missed high and Mallar’s shot on the run was denied by Cifuentes-Robles.

The Bulldogs then returned to the attack, but junior Loic Ramanzani missed just wide, senior Eliezer Mambueni got a feed from Muanda and missed high, then a cross from senior Isaac Rodrigues-Nkanza’s cross landed in the box but went untouched.

Then, with 8:44 on the first half clock, the Red Storm got the jump as a ball was played in, it ricocheted off senior Matthew Booth to Ghosheh and this time, Ghosheh wouldn’t be denied as he ripped a shot that Cifuentes-Robles got a piece of but couldn’t keep out of the goal and Scarborough had a 1-0 lead.

“That was a really nice goal,” said Diaz.

After Bachman’s free kick bid to double the lead was denied, Portland pushed for the equalizer and a cross from senior Mateta Antonio set up Joao for a great look, but Corry robbed him point blank.

The Bulldogs would be rewarded in the final minute, however, as off a corner kick, Muanda served the ball in and after it was knocked back to him, Muanda dribbled in and ripped a bender with his left foot which sailed just inside the far post and past a diving Corry into the net to make it 1-1 with just 51.9 seconds on the clock.

“In my mind, I knew I had to shoot,” Muanda said. “I didn’t see the goal, I just shot. I was trying to go far corner.”

“When (Baptista) hit that ball, we had a great look at the angle,” said Frenzilli. “The only thing I thought was their goalie might have started his dive in time to get a hand on it, but he got it in the side panel. It was a great boost for us.”

“They got a corner and he got a nice lefty shot into the side netting,” said Scarborough junior Finn Coburn. “You have to give them that. It was a nice shot.”

“Things got broken down off the corner,” Diaz said. “We’ll have to look at that and fix it.”

Scarborough had a 6-4 advantage in first half shots on cage and Portland took three corner kicks to the Red Storm’s two, but the game was level and that wouldn’t change in the second half, despite good chances for both squads.

Portland junior Bunga Pedro handles the ball as Scarborough junior Denver Bachman closes in.

Early on, senior Matt Fallona missed just high for the Red Storm while Joao fired a blast high for the Bulldogs.

With 17:38 to play, Rodrigues-Nkanza got free, but his low shot was saved by Corry.

Five minutes later, Joao weaved his way through the defense and got to the top of the box before missing just high.

With 10:48 on the clock, Corry saved a shot from Mawangu.

With 9:41 showing, Portland had its best chance to win it, as Rodrigues-Nkanza crossed the ball in front to Joao, who had a look an open net, but his header went just wide.

In the waning moments, a Rodrigues-Nkanza cross was punched out by Corry and a long free from Mas was bobbled and snared by Corry and at the other end, Cifuentes-Robles saved a header from junior EJ Herrick and the clock melted away in regulation.

In the first OT, a long shot from Herrick was saved by Cifuentes-Robles and after a Muanda cross was just out of the reach of Joao, Scarborough took consecutive corner kicks in the waning seconds, but a Cifuentes-Robles punch-out ensured the game remained deadlocked.

Then, in the second extra session, the Red Storm had multiple chances to win it.

But they came up short.

First, Cifuentes-Robles beat Herrick to a Ghosheh pass in the box.

After Muanda missed just high for Portland, the ball deflected to Mallar in the box at the other end, but he missed high.

Scarborough then took a corner kick in the final minute, but a header from junior Finn Coburn, off a serve from sophomore Connor Casey, was just off the mark and the game ended 1-1.

“The team played really, really well, but it was tough,” said Muanda. “We wanted to win but we couldn’t. I feel like the team was tired at the end.”

“I was very pleased with how the boys played,” Frenzilli said. “They wanted a different result, but I’m sure Scarborough wanted a different result too. They’re very good and they make you pay if you have a hiccup. We had plenty of hiccups. We have to let them earn their touches, but we can’t give them any more because they’re a talented team. I’m pleased with how the boys are competing. We could have easily folded after that first goal, but we fought back.”

Cifuentes-Robles made nine saves for the Bulldogs.

“Marco played great,” Frenzilli said. Both goalkeepers came up big and did what they needed to do to keep their teams in the game.”

Scarborough finished with a 10-9 edge in shots on frame, got eight saves from Corry and had a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.

“It was a tough game against a tough team,” Coburn said. “It was competitive. Both teams had chances. We fought hard. Our defense was strong. I’m happy with the way we played. We just got a little bit unlucky. That last play, I just missed the header wide. We’ll move on and get them next game. We hope to see them again in the playoffs and if we do, it’ll be another great game.”

Time to shine

Portland (third in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) is home next week for games versus Sanford Wednesday and Kennebunk Saturday. The Bulldogs still have road tests looming versus Windham and Deering.

“We’re a tough team,” Muanda said. “I think we improve a lot every single game. We want to be our best for playoffs.”

“Playoffs will be crazy,” said Frenzilli. “I’d love to get some home cooking if we can get it, but at this point, we still have half our season to go. We still have some tough teams to face.”

Scarborough’s road gets no easier, as undefeated Windham pays a visit Tuesday. The Red Storm (fifth in the region) then go to Bonny Eagle Saturday of next week.

“We just have to keep working and when we get a chance, we have to put it in the back of the net,” said Coburn.

“I’m proud of the conference I get to coach in,” Diaz said. “It’s a great conference, the best in the state and it’s not even close. Every night is a battle. It’s like the (Southeastern Conference) in (college) football. Whoever does come out will deserve it.”