In the final match of the USL League 2 season, Annapolis Blues recorded a 3-3 draw against Charlottesville Blues in dramatic fashion.
Annapolis opened the scoring just two minutes in as Emmett Kershner found his first goal of the season. Matty Helfrich received a lifted diagonal pass at midfield from Taku Takahasi. The right back took one touch before lifting a through ball that found Kershner in stride, splitting Charlottesville’s center back and left back. The striker had eyes on goal and chipped the onrushing goalkeeper, Tyler Beck, with a first-time lifted finish on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Charlottesville equalized just 10 minutes later. Sam Roberson received a cross on the left wing, inside the box. His initial shot was blocked by Helfrich, however, the rebound fell directly back to Roberson who took a first time shot that beat Owen Allegro, finding the bottom right corner. Graham Dougald doubled the lead just 112 seconds after Roberson, shocking Annapolis with back-to-back goals. He received a chipped through ball from Zsombor Pall that bounced perfectly, making contact 11 yards out from goal. Similar to Kershner, he lifted his first time finish over the onrushing Allegro, as Ian Webb-Johnson attempted to make a goal line clearance, and found the back of the net with a nearly inch-perfect chip shot.
Annapolis was awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute after Kobe Keomany was fouled in the back as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Kershner. Brady Geho stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted his chance to the left side, on the ground, to pull things level. Charlottesville held the edge in the first half with 55% possession and one more shot than Annapolis.
The second half saw a few yellow cards dished out to both sides with tempers flaring as both sides looked to find the winning goal.
Although Charlottesville made a goalkeeper change at the half, Annapolis never truly tested JP Martin in his first appearance of the season. Ultimately, the only major attacking chance of the half would for Charlottesville would not come until stoppage time. Webb-Johnson was stripped of the ball by Luca Estabio, leaving Dougald with the ball at his feet 30 yards out from goal. The strike drove towards the box, two-on-one with his counterpart Estabio. Dougald played a square pass to Estabio at the top of the box, directly bypassing the onrushing Allego, who passed the ball into the back of the empty net, thinking that he had sealed all three points on the road for Charlottesville.
However, the drama was not done yet. Webb-Johnson was fouled in the back, inside the box, in the 94th minute, giving Annapolis a lifeline. Luke Dunne stepped up to the spot and confidently placed the spot kick to the right side, equalizing once again for Annapolis.
