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JACKSONVILLE (Special to SportsDay Media) – Brooklyn FC Men fought back to earn a 2-2 draw away to Sporting Jacksonville on Saturday night after allowing two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the match. The previous meeting between the two clubs in May ended with the same scoreline but in that match JAX were the team that fought back from two goals down.
Sporting JAX got off to a quick start with their first goal coming in just the third minute. Defender Tyshawn Rose sent in a low cross from the left wing that forward Emil Jääskeläinen put in the back of the net with a first touch finish.
The second goal came a few minutes later from another cross, this time swung in from the right side of the pitch by defender Edgardo Rito. Forward Ahmed Al-Qaq was able to get on the end of it and put JAX up 2-0.
Brooklyn’s attack began to show signs of life in the 16th minute as midfielder CJ Olney Jr had two shots within a minute. The first came from a breakaway after a clearance but his shot went straight at the keeper. Only seconds later he shot a header that just flew over the bar.
In the second half, Brooklyn began to take control of the match and their effort was rewarded in the 58th minute. A long ball forward was flicked on by midfielder Tommy McNamara and then headed into goal by forward JC Obregon Jr. for his second USL Championship goal of the season.
Brooklyn kept piling pressure and in the 74th minute forward Markus Anderson was taken down in the box as he tried to jump and challenge for a header. The captain McNamara stepped up to calmly convert the penalty for his first career Brooklyn goal.
Sporting JAX had a big chance to take the lead in the 82nd minute as Al-Qaq ran in behind but his shot was saved at point blank range by the Brooklyn goalkeeper Lukas Burns. Al-Qaq attempted to score from the rebound but that was also saved by Burns.
The ending of the match started to get chippy as more fouls were called and a yellow card was shown to a player on both teams. Although both teams had chances in the late stage of the match, neither was able to find the decisive winner.
