E.P. Sports, Lindo’s Settle for 2-2 Draw

East Providence forward Kyle Teixeira lines up a free kick in the 74th minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Lindo’s ST.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – East Providence Sports surrendered an early two-goal lead, forcing them to settle for a 2-2 draw with Lindo’s ST (Fall River, Mass.) in a Sunday morning LUSA League match at Riverside Recreational Field.

Kyle Teixeira (17′) and Armando Gomes (25′) put Lindo’s into a deficit it climbed out of by the second half thanks to a Carlos Araujo strike (32′) and an own goal (60′).

East Providence wasted no time finding chances in the opening minutes. In the 4th minute, Justin Kahle hit the post while Alonso Villasenor saw shot inside the area saved by keeper Antonio Pereira.

But the hosts found paydirt in the 17th minute. Teixeira collected a poor clearance and fired a shot that lodged itself inside the far post to open the account.

After a string of picture-perfect passes inside the attacking third, Gomes grabbed the final one from Andres Perdono and scored to make it a two-goal advantage in the 25th minute.

Staring at an early deficit, the guests responded minutes later. Araujo took the ball into the final third and unleashed a rocket that found the upper 90 to cut the lead in half.

At the hour mark, luck was clearly on the side of Lindo’s on a crucial sequence in front of the East Providence net. Claudio Jesus crossed it into the area, where it deflected off the leg of an East Providence defender and landed into the back of the net to level it.

Both teams found chances to secure the game winner. In the 71st minute, Araujo sent a cross to the far post that Brian Purcell came within inches of burying.

Two minutes from full time, Gomes pounded two shots at the near post from close range. But each time, Pereira refused to lift the gate and helped preserve the road draw.

With the draw, East Providence’s record goes to 5-3-1 (16 points) while Lindo’s line goes to 2-7-1 (7 points).

All LUSA teams will be off next weekend in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. The league will resume play during the on July 7, when East Providence returns to action for a game against Fall River Sports at Billy Gonsalves Field in Fall River. Kickoff is set for 6:30pm.

Fall River Sports will host Lindo’s three days later on Jul. 10, game time set for 6:30pm.