E.P. Wins 2-0 Over Taunton Sports

East Providence Sports found two goals from Jimmy Hernandez in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Taunton Sports at Riverside Rec Park.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jimmy Hernandez grabbed a brace for the hosts and Jimmi Underhill earned his first clean sheet of the season in East Providence’s 2-0 win over Taunton Sports in LUSA League action on Sunday.

Hernandez’s first goal arrived in the 31st minute then added another in the 75th minute. Underhill’s four saves kept Taunton Sports off the board en route to East Providence’s eight win of the season.

The opening scenes of the first half featured heavy dose of physical play, with the guests’ intent to bait E.P. into a scrappy match. But any harsh or egregious fouls were averted thanks to the vigilance of the referee, who managed to keep the game from becoming an all-out scrum.

Once the fouls subsided, the hosts began to find opportunities. But the first of those opportunities was snuffed out by Taunton keeper Sergio Rivas-Cruz, who’s aerial save on Hernandez in the 23rd minute was a showstopper.

Hernandez, however, would get his revenge at the hour mark. Peter Maciel chipped it toward the right flank, where Hernandez collected it, beat a defender, then pushed it inside the far post for the opening goal.

Taunton nearly equalized seven minutes later. With his sights set on an unguarded far post, Nicholas Ferrara aimed and fired but the shot skipped a meter wide of its intended target.

The guests found another opportunity to level it in the opening moments of the second half. From a free kick near the left edge of the area, Fabio Oliveira pounded the right post and fell to an E.P. defender before it was cleared out of danger.

After waving two golden opportunities good bye, the hosts pulled widened the gap in the 75th minute. With his angle closing as he entered the six, Kyle Lopes slid across frame to Hernandez, who took a touch around a defender then tapped it through to make it a two-goal advantage.

East Providence returns to action on Jul. 22 at 11am when they host Clube Recordações at Riverside Rec Park. Taunton Sports returns to action on Jul. 21 at 6:30pm when they host Lindo’s ST at Pepe Amaral Field.