Rodriguez Keeps Seacoast United’s Playoff Hopes Alive

After a lackluster performance, Taig Healy hit the crossbar on a free kick for Zemedkun Rodriguez to score in the 78th minute. The Phantoms defeated the Ocean City Nor’easters 1-0 in the round of 32 and will play Vermont Green FC in the next round.

“It was a tough game,” Phantoms head coach Alex Ryan said. “Neither team really had control of the game and I don’t think either team played particularly well.”

The Phantoms went out without star player Marco dos Santos and right back Mitch Varley. In the absence of dos Santos, winger Terry Makedika stepped in behind striker Ibrahim Condé to help Healy between the lines.

In the 24th minute, Healy fired in a free kick from the right side of the Nor’easter penalty area. Nor’easter goalkeeper Nathanael Sallah only managed to tip Healy’s cross away from Shun Kushima, who headed the ball onto the crossbar.

The Nor’easters then took the lead, catching Harrison Bertos and So Nishikawa in transition.

In the 33rd minute, Nor’easters central defender Agustin Resch leapt over the Phantoms’ defence and converted a free kick, before firing the ball onto the crossbar.

Despite the pressure, the Phantoms’ defense stepped up and held off the Nor’easters’ attacks. In the 39th minute, Charles Strine and Isaac Heffess blocked consecutive shots before another shot went wide.

At half-time, Kushima was replaced by Alfred Baafi and Sam White was moved to midfield.

“We tried to tip the balance and be more attacking with our changes,” Ryan said. “Eventually Rodriguez came in and we got what we wanted.”

Despite the changes, the Phantoms struggled to create chances, while the Nor’easters continued to try to get behind.

In the 72nd minute, Bertos was taken off the field due to a yellow card and Rodriguez came on.

Five minutes later, Rodriguez smashed the ball into the goal after Healy hit the crossbar from a free kick.

“We knew it was going to come down to a rebound or a deflection or some kind of half-chance,” Ryan said. “Rodriguez got on the end of the rebound and scored.”

Seacoast United continues its play-off run against Vermont Green FC on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

“We’re excited to play them again,” Ryan said. “We’ve beaten them the best so far, but we’ve got to buckle down because it’s going to be a tight and cautious affair.”