The Bulls must win on Friday to secure a spot in the 2022 American Athletic Conference Tourney.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Oct. 31, 2021) – In what was a must-win situation as the best-case scenario, or earning a draw as the next best alternative, the University of South Florida men’s soccer team had to settle for the latter as the Bulls and Memphis battled to a scoreless double-overtime draw on Sunday night. The tie brings South Florida’s record to 5-7-2 overall and 3-5-1 in the American Athletic Conference. The Tigers are now 5-8-2 on the year and 4-4-1 in The American.
With each side earning a point, the Green and Gold remain just three points behind Memphis – who sits in fourth place and the final AAC Tournament spot – with one match left in the regular season. Due to the draw, the Bulls have to win on Friday against Temple, who is currently winless in conference play, and the Tigers must lose to third-place SMU, for South Florida to move into fourth place and secure the final spot in the conference tournament. Had the Bulls lost in Memphis, they would have been eliminated from tournament contention.
South Florida goalkeeper Kazuna Takase (Tomoto, Japan) made four saves on the night, earning his third career shutout. Of his four saves, none were bigger than the stop he made on a point-blank opportunity by the Tigers’ Emanual Santos in the 94’ minute of play. Santos took a pass into the box and fired a laser from five yards out that was denied by Takase to keep the match scoreless.
In addition to his four saves, Takase had twice as many situations where he came out of the goal and went high above the defense to either secure the ball or punch it away, thwarting any opportunities Memphis had.
South Florida had its share of opportunities to find the back of the net, outshooting the Tigers, 17-10 and 8-4 in shots on goal.
The Bulls hit the frame twice in the first half, the first coming in the 11’ minute off a free kick from 28 yards out by Shion Soga (Aichi, Japan) that skipped off the crossbar. Henrique Gallina (Atibaia, Brazil) also had a quality chance in the 31’, getting a good look from 30 yards out and sending his offering on goal. His shot deflected off a Memphis defender and over the head of the Tigers’ goalkeeper Collin Welsh and off the crossbar.
South Florida had three chances in the final moments of the contest, however, couldn’t convert. Soga fired a shot on goal from inside the box that was stopped by Welsh at the last second in the 105’, a rebound that wasn’t secured, and found the foot of Andres Freire (Sarasota, Fla.) who put it inches over the crossbar from seven yards out.
Gallina gave the Bulls one last shot at the win in the 107’ on a free-kick, sending his offering straight to the goal, crossing up Welsh, however, the netminder was able to punch the ball away before the damage could be done.
1 2 OT1 OT2 F
USF 0 0 0 0 0
Memphis 0 0 0 0 0
Shots: USF 17, Memphis 10
Shots on Goal: USF 8, Memphis 4
Saves: USF 4, Memphis 8
Corner Kicks: USF 4, Memphis 9
Fouls: USF 14, Memphis 21
Notable
- The Bulls earned a point in their second-straight overtime contest … South Florida defeated Central Florida on Oct. 27, 4-3, in overtime.
- The Green and Gold have won their last four out of five matches against the Tigers, and eight of their last 10.
- South Florida is now 17-5-5 all-time against Memphis.
Up Next
The Bulls close out their regular season schedule at Corbett Stadium on Friday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. against Temple on Senior Night.
