Grizzlies Spoil Night In Final Seconds

October 20, 2018

MILWAUKEE - Nebojsa Popovic scored with just 19 seconds remaining in regulation to send Oakland to a 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee men's soccer team Saturday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (6-6-2, 2-3-1 Horizon League) certainly had the better chances down the stretch, but the Golden Grizzlies (7-6-2, 3-3 Horizon League) made the most of their opportunity to escape with the victory.
 
"That was certainly a tough one," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "We had the better of the chances all night and felt that was a game we could have won. They took advantage of their one opportunity late and that decided it."
 
Milwaukee had a handful of solid efforts over the final 10-plus minutes, but just couldn't find the net. It started in the 78th minute, with the fans watching Francesco Saporito's 22-yard free kick sail just over the crossbar.
 
In the 89th, Evan Conway played a give-and-go with Saporito, eventually receiving the ball back in front of goal. His header missed the inside of the left post by inches.
 
It was Conway again in the 90th, running onto a thru ball from Vuk Latinovich. After a quick touch to get by the final defender, his shot was smothered by the OU keeper just off his foot.
 
With time running out on the ensuing possession, Popovic took a ball at the top of the box, found some space and sent the winner inside the far post at the 89:41 mark.
 
The first half featured plenty of midfield possession, with the Panthers owning the better chances after the first 45 minutes was played. Neither team had a shot attempt of any kind until the 18th minute. That was when Latinovich put a solid header on frame off a great pass from Saporito. The OU keeper didn't need to move, however, making the save on the solid effort to keep it at zeroes.
 
Conway also had a decent opportunity in front of goal off a serve from Shawn Azcueta, only to see his effort get blocked out of bounds.
 
For the game, MKE posted advantage of 14-to-7 in shots, 3-to-2 in shots on goal and 5-to-1 in corner kicks, but were unable to turn those edges into a goal.
 
Up next, the Panthers make one more step out of league for a Tuesday contest against Eastern Illinois, set to start at 6 p.m.

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