Broncobusters push fourth-ranked Tigers to the brink

Arkansas City, KS-First-year coach, Oscar Zelaya continues to preach that his team is so close to getting over the hump. Wednesday night provided more evidence of that.  

The Broncbusters led fourth-ranked Cowley at halftime. But the Tigers responded with a pair of goals in the second period including the go-ahead score by Kanta Ishii in the 70^th minute as Cowley survived with a 3-2 victory.  

The Tigers struck first in the 15^th minute off a free kick from just left of the box. Joao Magalhaes sent a perfect ball inside that Sota Nakazono headed in for a 1-0 advantage.  

The Broncbusters answered less than 15 minutes later when Jaden Grant collected a ball that was sent over the keeper's head. With Kamy Ndione seemingly off balance, Grant slipped a pass to Vitor Mendonca, who easily put it home to tie the match, 1-1. 

Later in the first half, the Broncbusters got another free run that Vitor Mendonca possessed at the top of the box. With a defender flying at him, the freshman passed back to Joaquin Iturra, who blasted one into the top left-corner of the net for a 2-1 lead at the intermission.  

But the Tigers answered three minutes into the second half when Carmelo Bello scored an unassisted goal to even things up. Then, in the 70^th, Ishii used a beautiful spin move to shed both Joao Weber Vitor and Thomas Mututala in the box. He then beat keeper, Axcel Padilla for the go-ahead goal. 

Garden City, which fell to 5-4-3 overall and 1-4-2 in the Jayhawk, was outshot, 19-9. Padilla recorded seven saves.