The LBCC Vikings struggled to break down a defensive LA Mission team in a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.
The Vikings tried to initiate the first score as defender Adrian Acevedo took a shot that was heading into the top left corner of the net but was saved by the Eagle’s keeper.
Minutes later LBCC would get a penalty after forward Jose Ventura dribbled into the box and was tripped, and the Vikings were awarded a penalty kick. From there, forward Jesus Moreno slotted the penalty past the Eagle’s keeper into the bottom left corner of the goal to put the Vikings ahead 1-0.
The Eagles would level the game 1-1 in the 12th minute scoring from a free kick placed towards the far post that was headed into the goal by forward Yahav Arviv.
For the remainder of the first half, the Vikings would struggle to break past the Eagle’s defense and create any opportunities until the 39th minute registering their third shot of the game.
Before halftime, LBCC would break through in the 43rd minute as forward Arnold Giron would get tackled in the box, giving the Vikings another penalty kick. Giron would place the kick into the bottom right of the goal to put them ahead 2-1.
Right on the 45th minute, the Eagles would score again from a poorly defended free kick, with the ball crossed to Arviv who scored his second goal in the match and put the LA Mission 2-2 seconds before halftime.
The second half was not in favor of the Vikings, as they couldn’t get through the Eagle’s defense having five shots and only testing the keeper once in the 54th minute which was saved in front of the goal.
“The hardest thing to break are teams who sit back and are very organized, so we have to be creative and dynamic and a little bit more fluid,” said coach Jorge Reyes.
Throughout the game, the Eagles only registered two shots both resulting in goals compared to the Vikings who had 10 shots in total scoring twice and making the keeper save one attempt on goal.
This was the second tie in a row for the Vikings and they have already conceded 10 goals in the eight games this pre-season.
“We as a team need to be more unified and work as one. It’s important for us to cheer one another on and hold each other accountable in order to get the best out of everyone,” said captain and midfielder Jonathan Grado.
The Vikings will return to the field on Friday against San Bernardino Valley at 6 p.m. with their three remaining games in the pre-season being away. The team will be at home again on Oct. 4 in their first conference game of the season against East Los Angeles.