SeaWolves rally from two down to beat Victoria

EDMONDS – The North Sound SeaWolves overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the Victoria Highlanders 3-2 in a Premier Development League match Friday at Edmonds Stadium.

Photo above: June 22, 2012, Edmonds, Wa. – A hot shot from SeaWolves Brady Ballew (#11) zips past Highlanders GK Elliott Mitrou early in second half for the home side equalizer. SeaWolves defeat Highlanders 3:2 and completed a seemingly almost impossible turn around from 0:2 deficit in the first half. (Wilson Tsoi)

SeaWolves Press Release / Wilson Tsoi Match Photos at Facebook.com/goalWA

The win snapped a three-match losing streak for the SeaWolves, who improved to 4-6 with six games left. Victoria fell to 2-6-3.

“We’re very happy to get the win,” SeaWolves coach Alex Silva said. “We still believe we have a chance for the playoffs. If we can play like we did in the second half, we should be good.”

June 22, 2012, Edmonds, Wa. – Victoria’s Gareth Langdon (#24) scores Highlanders’ first goal at 27′.

The SeaWolves got the game-winner in the 65th minute on a scramble inside the goal box that midfielder Marshall Kosaka tapped in for his first goal of the season. The defense, a season-long problem area for North Sound, held strong behind the play of Kevin Cook, the only SeaWolves defender to start every game this season. Elmer Rodriguez, making his first appearance of the season, made two tough second-half saves to earn the win in goal.

The SeaWolves played the final few minutes of the match with 10 players after Kosaka picked up his second yellow card of the game. It was the third time this season North Sound finished a man down because of a red card. Kosaka will miss Monday’s game against Portland.

Victoria scores its second goal at the 41′ mark from Ashley Burbeary. (Wilson Tsoi)

The Highlanders, who finished second in the PDL Northwest Division a year ago, took the lead in the 20th minute when Gareth Langdon headed home a Jordan Hughes cross. It was 2-0 in the 33rd minute when the SeaWolves appeared to scored into their own net, though the goal was credited to Ashley Burbeary.

The North Sound rally started in the 40th minute when Victoria defender Kalem Scott fell on the ball in the goal box and was whistled for a hand ball, leading to a penalty kick goal by Abdul Aman, the North Sound forward’s team-leading fifth of the season.

SeaWolves Abdulawi Aman (#7) converts a penalty kick on the spot after SeaWolves Quinton Beasley was fouled inside penalty area by Victoria Kalem Scott late in fiirst half. The goal cuts the home side deficit by half at 1-2 before halftime. SeaWolves defeat Highlanders 3-2 and complete a seemingly almost impossible turn-around from 0-2 deficit in the first half. (Wilson Tsoi)

The SeaWolves tied it at 2 in the 54th minute when David Hill dropped a pass off to Marysville native Brady Ballew and Ballew fired in a shot from about 15 yards out for his third goal of the season.

“The second half was the best we’ve played all season,” Silva said. “We started out the same way, making mistakes, and we still have work to do on our defense. But the second half we moved the ball well and our defense played stronger.”

The SeaWolves have two home matches remaining, including Monday’s 7:30 p.m. match with the Portland Timbers U-23 team. North Sound also plays the Seattle Sounders U-23s on Friday, June 29 at home.

“We have some big games coming up that should be fun to watch,” Silva said. “Those are two very good teams, obviously MLS-affiliated teams. It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”

The play that builds up to be SeaWolves eventual game-winner is shown with, SeaWolves from right to left, MF Marshall Kosaka (#21, blue, eventually would score with a header) in front of Victoria GK Elliott Mitrou (#29, green) Kevin Cook (#14) who eventually would kick the ball toward Kosaka after the ball bounced off Nasyir Rodriguez (#10, blue.) Despite furious protest from Victoria side, the goal stands as the game winner for the SeaWolves at the 65th minute mark. (Wilson Tsoi)