Late penalty kick by Gordy Gurson gets Cedar Rapids Rampage United another victory

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Rampage United had the edge, it just took a while to pay off.

The second-year Premier League of America soccer team played much of its home opener with a one-player advantage against a reserve goalkeeper, but needed a penalty kick from forward Gordy Gurson in the 82nd minute to get past Milwaukee, 1-0, Saturday night at Kingston Stadium.

'I knew I had to pick a side and knew I had to get it in the corner because he wasn't a goalie,' Gurson said. 'He was going to guess a side and he ended up guessing right, but it was a good finish and I'll take the result.'

The penalty strike — Gurson's team-high second goal in two games — was scored against Milwaukee midfielder Logan Andryk, who was called into action when starting goalkeeper James Jones was ejected barely 10 minutes into the match.

Jones was assessed a red card after an early Gurson breakaway forced the keeper into an intentional collision that kept the match scoreless, but ensured Milwaukee would compete with just 10 players the rest of the way.

'The goalie was beaten and he knew the only thing he could do was take me down and that someone on his team would step up,' Gurson said. 'They executed it very well, they were just unfortunate.'

The defending PLA champion Bavarians (4-1, 12 standings points) reshuffled their defensive strength and managed to keep the Rampage United at bay until former Iowa City High prep Fernando Pacheco was knocked to the ground on a drive to the goal with just over 10 minutes left in the match.

Gurson stepped to the penalty box and helped Cedar Rapids (2-0, 6 standings points) to victory.

'When you have a man up and you don't score, the players start to panic a little,' Cedar Rapids Coach Hewerton Moreira said. 'They, in their mind, because we have the advantage, (think) we should score right away and it's not about that. … A win is a win no matter how many goals we score.'

Cedar Rapids travels to Wisconsin next weekend for a pair of matches with the Croatian Eagles (1-0-2) and the Madison 56ers (1-2-2), then returns to Kingston Stadium July 1 against the 56ers.

AT KINGSTON STADIUM

Cedar Rapids Rampage United 1, Milwaukee Bavarians 0

Goal —

Gordy Gurson.

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