The Great Bend soccer team played some of their minutes of the season, but there was no storybook ending.
The Garden City Buffaloes ruined the Panthers’ Hollywoodscript with a hard-earned 2-1 victory Thursday at Cavanaugh Field. The Buffaloes’ Salvador Bustos scored the gamewinning off a free kick on a restart after a foul just outside the Panthers’ penalty box with 15:31 left in regulation. It was the Panthers’ third loss by one goal.
Great Bend’s final desperation attempt was created when Humberto Alonzo fed a perfect centering pass to Martinez, whose header went high over the goal with 2:20 left. Franco also struck a hard shot towards the goal which was deflected.
‘“Our effort stayed high and we moved the ball very well today,” said Great Bend coach Jesus Loera. “For the caliber of team Garden City is, we were pleased by how well we played. We possessed the ball more and have tried to stay more creative. We just need to finish with a score.”
The game-winning goal was scored off a free kick, which has hurt the Panthers at times.
“On set pieces, that an area we can do a better job,” said Loera. “We don’t always get on the free ball.”
The Panthers (4-8, 1-5 WAC) had dominated possession in the second half with brilliant play from the trio of offensive standouts Dani Franco, Oscar Martinez and Chiny Sanchez, who played his best minutes of the season. The Panthers performed their ball possession by swinging the ball back and forth to maintain the ball.
Garden City (8-4, 3-4) led 1-0 for 33 minutes on a breakaway goal by Jesus Garcia at the 36:41 mark of the first half. The goal inspired the Panthers after the Buffaloes’ Htoo Htoo helped Garden City dominate early possession time. Franco, Martinez and Sanchez kept pressuring Garden City’s backline of Angel Rivera, Moses Ismael, Alec Keonsengphet and Eric Alvarez.
Great Bend’s Humberto Alonzo tied the score 1-1 on a goal after a deflection in the goal area.
The Panthers’ backline defense of Junior Franco, Rodrigo Berbil, Angel Razo and Jaime Arellanes held strong in support of goalie Alberto Leyva.
Leyva earned a few fortunate breaks when quality shots by Garden City’s Alonso Vera and Rodrigo Oropeza sailed wide on an open goal. Sanchez and Arellanes each preserved the tie with quality clears.
The Panthers will celebrate Senior Night at home Monday against Wichita Independent.
The game was played in 44-degree temperatures with drizzle falling throughout the game. The chill temperature dipped to 40 degrees.
Humberto Alonzo (19) pivots and dribbles looking for an open partner. Alonzo scored the first goal of the game for the Panthers.
