Arizona United Soccer Club keeps playoffs hopes alive following win over OKC Energy FC

PEORIA, Ariz. (Friday, August 22, 2014) – Arizona United Soccer Club defeated OKC Energy FC 1-0 at the Peoria Sports Complex and moved into a tie for the eighth and final USL PRO playoff position with two regular-season matches remaining.

Defender Scott Morrison provided the late heroics for the home side in the 76th minute when he collected a Kadeem Dacres saved shot on the touchline and finished from a tough angle inside the box.

The win extended Arizona United SC’s winning streak to a franchise best three matches and improved its record to 9-12-5. Arizona United SC is now tied with the Charlotte Eagles on points with 30 for eighth place in the standings.

The match also featured three red cards, the first being issued during stoppage time in the first half when Mark Howard was shown his second yellow on a foul to Long Tan. OKC Energy FC went down to nine men when Tarek Morad fouled Jon Okafor in for box. Second half substitute Kadeem Dacres stepped up to take the penalty, but goalkeeper Samir Badr saved it. Thirty seconds later, Dacres was issued a straight red when his tackle upended OKC Energy FC’s Cyprian Hedrick.

Arizona United Soccer Club will close out the season with two road matches. Facing the Seattle Sounders Reserves on Monday at 1:00 p.m., before squaring off against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on September 6 in Pittsburgh.

-Arizona United Soccer Club Match Report-

Match: Arizona United Soccer Club vs. OKC Energy FC
Date: Friday, August 25, 2014
Competition: USL PRO
Venue: Peoria Sports Complex
Kickoff: 7:30 PM PDT
Attendance: 3,588
Weather: Clear, and 88 degrees

Scoring Summary:
AZ – Scott Morrison – 76

Misconduct Summary:
OKC – Mark Howard (Yellow) – 21
OKC – Mark Howard (Yellow/RED) – 45
OKC –Cyprian Hedrick (Yellow)– 74
AZ – Joey Dillon (Yellow) – 88
OKC – Tarek Morad (RED) – 90
AZ – Kadeem Dacres (RED) – 90

Lineups:

Arizona United SC: Evan Newton, Widner Saint-Cyr, Tyler Ruthven, London Woodberry, Scott Morrison, Matt Kassel, Joey Dillon, Sam Garza (George Malki – 79) , Jonathan Top (Jon Okafor – 60), Brad Stisser (Kadeem Dacres – 71), Long Tan

Did not play: Jacole Turner, Joseph Toby, Jalen Robinson, Benji Lopez

OKC Energy FC: Samir Badr, Moer Doue (Paul Wyatt – 81), Cyprian Hedrick, Gareth Evans, Mark Howard, Abraham Villon (Christian Duke – 46), Nate Shiffman, Danchrisandre Delgado (Tarek Morad – 46), Jimmy Medranda (Steven Perry – 61), Adda Djeziri, Kyle Grieg (Nate Polak – 72)

Did not play: Ray Clark, Javier Castro