SOUTHSIDE FIGHTS BACK AGAINST CENTRAL

Southside boys soccer coach Mahmoud Imeidan knows his team is far better than their 8-7 overall record. For the Mavericks, it’s about finishing. Friday, they scored two quick goals with 25 minutes left to play and then held on for a 3-2 win over Little Rock Central. Not the prettiest win, not the worst, either. But they’ll take it. “We came out, and the first 20 minutes we were the better team,” Imeidan said. “And then we went back to some old habits and were just dribbling the ball. I told them at halftime, ‘Guys, we have to play the second half the way we did the first 20 minutes.’ “If we do that the goals will come.” Southside (8-7, 3-3) took a 1-0 lead at the 17:32 mark of the first half on Derek Gutierrez’ 15th goal of the season. But Central tied it 2 1/2 minutes later on the first of two goals by the Tigers’ Jose Hernandez. Southside goalie Solomon Amador deflected Hayden Gilbert’s corner shot with 9:21 left, but Hernandez scored again with 7:59 left to put the Tigers ahead at the half. The Mavericks tied the game on Benji Flores’ goal with 26:13 left, and Chris Orellana’s nice dish to Dustin Lopez proved to be the game-winner with 25:26 left to play. “To be honest, it was about coach’s encouragement at halftime,” Lopez said. “We came back and put it in the net.”

Central High School Athletics

SOUTHSIDE FIGHTS BACK AGAINST CENTRAL

Photo Credit: Central Athletics