E.P. Equalizes Late vs. Lusitana

East Providence striker Kyle Teixeira takes a free kick during Saturday’s 2-2 draw to Lusitana Sports. (Photo: Alejandro Restrepo)

CUMBERLAND, R.I. – Justin Kahle’s 93rd minute equalizer delivered East Providence from the brink in Saturday’s 2-2 draw to Lusitana Sports at Lusitana Field.

Kyle Teixeira scratched the scoresheet first in the 23rd to give the guests a halftime lead. Lusitana’s Michael Gomes leveled it in the 76th minute while Edgar Lopez put the hosts ahead in the 83rd minute. But Kahle’s stoppage time strike in virtual darkness capped the scoring seconds before the final whistle.

The game opened with unmistakable urgency as both teams raced to get on the board. Gomes and Teixeira found early chances, but neither could capitalize as the game remained scoreless midway through the first half.

Then, in the 22nd minute, Lusitana was called for a handball inside the area and a penalty was awarded to East Providence. Teixeira went with the stutter step before nailing it inside the left post in the 23rd minute.

Lusitana immediately searched for a response when Lopez and Manuel Alves put together back-to-back shots in the 24th minute. The hosts found another chance in the 43rd minute when Gomes sent a pass to Joao Goncalves, who chipped it over keeper Jimmi Underhill. But the ball hovered over the bar as the East Providence defense collectively gasped in relief.

In the second half, Gomes would rue a pair of opportunities he effectively cast into the wastebasket. In the 57th minute, the shifty striker escaped his mark and sent the subsequent shot wide of the far post.

Minutes later, Paulo Rodrigues drew a penalty after he was brought down inside the box and Gomes stepped up to take the shot from the spot. But instead of hitting it through, his shot flew over the bar and the advantage remained with the guests.

However, the 76th minute would bring better luck for Gomes. Shortly after an East Providence turnover, the striker weaved through three defenders and drew Underhill off his line before the shot journeyed into the net.

Seven minutes later, Lusitana scored again when Ingy Flores sent a free kick into the 18, where an unmarked Lopez buried it to back East Providence into a corner with full time approaching.

With desperation setting in, the guests advanced with reckless abandon, but had nothing to show for it – until the third minute of stoppage. Kahle made a run down the left, then cut inside and beat keeper Mike Jerue to the far post to salvage the point just before the gun.

The last-second draw puts East Providence’s record at 11-3-3 (36 points) while Lusitana walks away with a 6-7-2 (20 points) mark. East Providence returns to action at 11am on Aug. 19 when they host Lincoln Club at Riverside Recreation Park. Lusitana will hit the road to face Lindo’s ST at 11am on Aug. 19 at Billy Gonsalves Field in Fall River, Mass.