Match Recap: Fidler Equalizes, Robinson Scores Winner as Peachtree City Defeat Tri-Cities 2-1

It may have taken a month and a half and nine games, but things are finally coming together for Peachtree City MOBA. After starting the season 0-6-1, MOBA found themselves at the bottom of the table and searching for an answer. Enter Edmundo Robinson and Todd Fidler. The two midfielder/forwards have been at the center of MOBA's strong run of success over the last three matches, and they look to keep their rolls going into the offseason.

Having finally earned their first victory in almost a year on June 21st in Nashville, MOBA needed to fix their home issues if they hoped to fix their season. Returning home to meet Tri-Cities was not going to make that task easy, however. Having played the Otters twice this season, Tri-Cities defeated MOBA in both matches by just one goal, but both of those matches were in Johnson City. This time, the site of battle turned to Peachtree City. As the first half started, it was the Otters who got on the board first, as Sam Amure headed in Conner Haney's corner and put Tri-Cities up 1-0 early. With yet another deficit looming large, MOBA needed to keep fighting and find their way out of the hole. The story of the last thirty minutes in the half was all the same, as it was Edmundo Robinson at the end of a long ball, but he was tripped up before he could get to it and the opportunity would be squandered away. At the end of the half, things looked bleak for Peachtree City, as they were down a goal yet again against the Otters.

During the break, it was up to newly promoted head coach Omar Jarun to rally his troops to victory. What was said in the locker room remains a mystery, but whatever it was, it worked. Coming out of the half, there was a lot of back and forth play, but MOBA could not find the equalizer early on. It was up to Luke Oesterle, who was making his first start for Peachtree City this season, to keep things close and leave the door open for his offense. After making an incredible diving save to keep things within a goal, Daniel Valenciano and Edmundo Robinson nearly scored equalizers, but both of their shots could not find the net. In the sixty-fifth minute, Jarun made the first of his substitutions, as the hero in Nashville Michael Brezovsky came on for Geinner Duque. Brezovsky made an immediate impact in the midfield, pressing forward with a number of great touches, but the goal still didn't come. Seven minutes later, Jarun made the greatest move of the season. Daniel Shaw, who had played a spectacular match, but was struggling to find the net, came off in favor Victor Forti who had been a strong player for MOBA during the preseason. In the very minute of his substitution, Forti took a corner right to his feet and nearly equalized off a beautiful back heel shot, but Otters keeper Carlos Rubio made a spectacular save to keep his team on top. Despite missing the shot, things became very clear that Forti was looking to make his presence felt. Two minutes later, it was Forti again, but this time things went differently. After Salomon Lorenzano did a brilliant job to intercept the throw in, he played the ball up to Forti who went on a run down the sideline. Upon reaching the endline, Forti crossed the ball low past the feet of Edmundo Robinson and right to Todd Fidler, who had been knocking on the door all night. On his first touch, Fidler put everything into the shot, and Rubio could not hold back the rocket, as MOBA finally equalized at one, and Todd Fidler scored his fourth goal of his MOBA career, which is a club record.. With fifteen minutes remaining, MOBA knew they still had time to win, and with the momentum now in their favor, the lights were beginning to turn on. Just six minutes later, it was Robinson who beat his man and was one-on-one with the keeper, but his curling shot rolled just wide of the post. The fans were getting louder, the pressure getting heavier, and the time running out. Three minutes later, the moment everybody in Peachtree City was waiting for finally came. After Rubio took a goal kick toward midfield, Michael Brezovsky headed the ball back downfield. Matthew Wooling was battling for the ball but lost it back toward the MOBA goal. Brezovsky, who had broken off his man, stepped forward and took a touch over everybody's head back toward Rubio, and it was Robinson who got on the end of it. After beating Jeremy Tshongo and getting into open field, Robinson was back in the face of the keeper, and this time he made no mistake. Stroking the ball eighteen yards out, Rubio dove but couldn't stop it, and the ball slowly rolled into the back of the net, and MOBA took their first lead at home this season. MOBA had a case for a penalty in stoppage time, as Robinson was taken down at the corner of the box and fell into Rubio, but no foul was called and Robinson came off with an injury. Despite that, MOBA still finished the match strong and at long last earned their first PDL win at MOBA Soccer Academy.

Win by the Numbers

• 4: Todd Fidler scored his fourth goal in a yellow and black shirt, making him the club leader in goals scored, passing Omar Jarun who scored three in his one season with the club before taking over coaching duties.
• 3: Edmundo Robinson scored his third goal of the season, tying the club record for goals in a season, which is a record that was also held by Jarun.
• 20: Adam Sheikali and Salomon Lorenzano became the first players in club history to record twenty PDL caps with Peachtree City MOBA, six more than the next closest player, Casey Shultis. Both defenders were key parts of the team during the 2016 season, and they have both served as captain for Peachtree City.

Now with a record of 2-7-1, the season hasn't been great, but it isn't over yet. Finally off the bottom of the table for the first time in weeks, MOBA will look to keep rolling, and if they keep playing like this, there is nothing to say they can't do it. With matches against Mississippi Brilla FC, South Georgia Tormenta FC, and SC United Bantams remaining, the road will not be easy, but neither is anything in soccer. So long as the drive to win remains in this MOBA squad, they will be an unstoppable force in the final half of the season.

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