QUICK HITS
- Cleveland State topped Northern Kentucky, 2-1, in overtime
- Gabriel Pewu scored the golden goal in the 100th minute
- Vlad Jandric had the assist on the game-winning goal
- CSU had tied the match with a goal with under five minutes in regulation
- The victory moved CSU's Horizon League record to 1-1 this season
- The teams combined for 44 fouls and 10 yellow cards in the match
MATCH RECAP
The Cleveland State University men's soccer team was staring at an 0-2 start to Horizon League play, but the Vikings rallied late in regulation before winning it in overtime to claim a 2-1 victory over Northern Kentucky Saturday evening at a summerlike Krenzler Field.
Senior Gabriel Pewu scored the golden goal with just 18 seconds remaining in the first overtime while classmate Vlad Jandric was credited with the assist. The tally was Pewu's third of the season while the helper was the first for Jandric in 2019.
Head coach Sinisa Ubiparipovic made a pair of changes to his first XI from last time out, as he reinserted Andrew Nicholas and Jannis Schmidt back into the lineup.
A back-and-forth first half saw 19 total shots between the two sides.
Cleveland State's best looks at goal were generally blocked by the NKU defense while the Vikings also had a couple of crosses that were near misses. The Norse had a good look in the 28th minute when a long free kick bounced around before NKU's shot from near the penalty spot was sent wide.
Northern Kentucky scored the game's first goal in the 60th minute, originating from a free kick from near the center circle. CSU was unable to fully clear the free kick, and a shot was taken from just inside the top of the box. The initial shot was blocked, but the rebound fell to a Norse player who slotted it home.
Facing the 1-0 deficit, the Vikings were on the verge of dropping their second straight Horizon League fixture by that score line. However, the hosts refused to give in and found an equalizer with fewer than five minutes to play.
Junior Thomas M'Barek played a diagonal ball over the top to senior Lawrence Karpeh. Karpeh battled a defender before laying it off to freshman Pablo Kawecki. Kawecki then played Pewu forward to near the end line before the senior played a short cross to senior Thomas Bielanski. Bielanski's initial header was saved, but NKU was unable to properly clear the ball, and it found its way over the goal line.
The Norse took their only shot in overtime from well outside the box, and it sailed wide. Karpeh tried to hit a bouncing cross in the 99th minute but could not connect with the ball squarely, and it sailed wide. However, Karpeh would soon be involved again.
The sequence that led to the winning goal started when Schmidt chased down the Norse defense and deflected a pass. Jandric would then cleanly win the ball before Bielanski played the ball across midfield to Nicholas.
Nicholas gathered and played a diagonal ball over the top to Karpeh. Karpeh's initial shot was saved, but CSU kept shooting. Jandric's effort was partially blocked, but Pewu followed it up by blasting the ball into the netting, sending the Viking bench into jubilation.
Freshman Omeed Naeemy picked up his second win in between the posts and finished the match with a pair of saves.
CSU held a 19-17 advantage in shots, including a 6-4 edge in shots on target.
Cleveland State will close the month at home as it hosts Milwaukee Saturday, Sept. 28, as part of Alumni Weekend.