LUSA: Shorthanded Lindo’s Rallies, Hands Fall River 1st Loss

Photo: Brian O’Connell

FALL RIVER, Mass. – After going a man down and conceding a penalty inside of 10 minutes, Lindo’s ST rallied for two goals in the waning moments to claim 2-1 win over Fall River Sports on Saturday at Billy Gonsalves Field.

Fall River’s Helder Porto struck from the spot in the sixth minute to put the defending champions in command early. But Lindo’s made a number of advances in the second half, and found the back of the net when Ruben Jose and Antonio Pereira struck in the 75th and 83rd minutes, respectively.

Lindo’s goalkeeper Philip Torres was red carded in the 4th minute after he brought down Lester Ramirez inside the box prior to the penalty.

The win puts Lindo’s at 4-0-1 (13 points) on the season, while Fall River (3-1-0, 9 points) dropped its first game of 2013.

Fall River wasted little time making its intentions known when Jordan Sindo sent Lester Ramirez through on Torres, who went full extension and tripped up Ramirez. The Fall River forward was initially able to stay on his feet, but fell right before he was able to place his shot. A penalty was awarded, and Torres was red carded before Porto sent it past substitute keeper Sean Viera only six minutes into the match.

Jose Sindo nearly made it a two-goal game in the 25 minute when he went parallel to goal from 20 yards and fired a shot that thumped the far post.

Lindo’s greeted the woodwork themselves seven minutes later when Elvis Delgado volleyed a loose ball at the top of the box that bounced off the bar and over the Fall River net.

Three minutes later, another shot found the bar when Ramirez grabbed another pass from Sindo and, with a large part of the net in front of him, punched his effort off the top of the goal.

The defending champions had to feel good about their situation at the half, up a goal with the man advantage. But Lindo’s would open the second frame intent to turn up the pressure on the Fall River defense.

In the 65th minute, Jarlson Dupin sent a ball toward Jose, who carried it into the area and looked ahead at a tempting opportunity to equalize. But his close range shot skipped harmlessly wide of the far post.

Ten minutes later, though, Dupin and Jose would get it right, although it probably wasn’t the way they drew it up. From beyond the box, Dupin ripped a shot that clanked off the post, and fell to Jose, who didn’t miss this time around to level the game with 15 minutes to go.

But Lindo’s wasn’t about to drop back and play for the draw, even though they only had ten men. In the 83rd minute, Dupin exploited a gaping hole in the Fall River defense when he led Pereira through en route to the game-winner.

The closest Fall River came to filing a response came in the 90+3 minute when Porto cracked a shot from distance that was cleared away by a Lindo’s defender only a yard in front of a wide open goal.

Fall River returns to action on Jun. 8 at Billy Gonsalves Field where they’ll host League Cup rival East Providence Sports at 7pm. After a Week 6 bye, Lindo’s will face East Providence on Jun. 15 at 6pm at Billy Gonsalves Field.