Leon’s late strike lifts Valley past Lanett 2-1
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — Eddy Leon scored the game-winning goal with 1:59 remaining as the Valley High School boys soccer team eked out a 2-1 home win over Lanett High School on April 10, sending the Rams’ seniors off with a victory in their final guaranteed home game.
With the result, VHS improved to 5-8-1 while the Panthers fell to 3-3.
Leon’s goal, secured in the game’s dying moments, capped a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams trade first-half goals before settling into a tense contest that stretched deep into the second half.
Perhaps what made the victory the sweetest for the Rams is that it was the first time they had ever beaten LHS, according to VHS head coach Will Elliott.
A visibly moved Elliott praised his players for holding firm as the Panthers sought to score a game-winning goal of their own mere moments before Leon struck.
The mix of emotions was difficult for him to capture.
“Man, it’s hard to come up with a word for it. Exciting, proud. Those are two words that mainly come to mind,” Elliott said. “It feels great to send the seniors out with a win and to get a final home win here [this season].”
While the sophomore forward still has plenty of home games ahead of him, Leon was also at a loss for words while his teammates celebrated the historic win behind him.
After displaying frustration at his inability to latch onto golden scoring opportunities in the minutes leading up to his goal, his patience was ultimately rewarded.
“I’m feeling happy because we work hard for this. We got the chance, we won and I’m happy,” Leon said. “I don’t have words for this. Happy, happy. It’s the only word that I can say.”
LHS struck first with 24:51 left in the opening half, capitalizing on an unusual sequence that handed the Panthers a golden opportunity.
After the Valley goalkeeper illegally touched the ball twice on a goal kick, the referee awarded LHS an indirect free kick inside the box.
There, the rare set piece look devolved into a mad scramble for the ball, and Antory Cruz stepped up and converted the chance to put the Panthers ahead 1-0.
The early deficit forced VHS to chase the game, and they spent the following minutes pressing for an equalizer.
That pressure eventually paid off with six minutes left before halftime, when VHS was awarded a penalty kick.
Freshman forward Jose Diaz took the responsibility, stepped to the spot and thumped a confident strike into the top right corner after freezing the goalkeeper in place.
His strike tied the game at 1-1 heading into the break.
The second half belonged to the goalkeepers as both sides generated chances and unsuccessfully pushed for a go-ahead goal.
As the minutes ticked away and frustration flared along the sidelines on both teams, the game appeared headed for an unsatisfying draw.
Then came Leon.
With under two minutes remaining and the match hanging in the balance, the sophomore forward collected a short through ball in the attacking third.
Positioned outside the left post, Leon struck a clinical left-footed finish that slipped past the goalkeeper’s outstretched arm and found the bottom right corner to give the Rams the 2-1 win.
