DE ANDRADE THE HERO IN HIS RETURN, UTICA CITY WINS 10-9 IN THE FINALS SECONDS

Utica City FC and the Empire Strykers went back and forth all night in a high-scoring MASL thriller that was decided in the final minute. Nilton De Andrade scored the game winner with 30 seconds remaining to seal the 10-9 win for Utica City. 

Empire opened the scoring at 2:34 of the first quarter, but Utica responded quickly. In his first game back from injury, Nilton de Andrade set up Kyle Gehnrich at 4:41 to tie it, followed by Emmanuel Belliard’s finish at 6:06 off a give-and-go with Sergio Pinal to make it 2–1. Willie Spurr added a long-range goal at 9:43 before Empire closed the quarter with two goals at 11:20 and 14:59, sending the game into the second quarter tied 3–3.

Empire took a 4–3 lead at 4:15 of the second quarter with the extra attacker, but Geo Alves answered on the counter at 6:43 to tie it. Utica regained the lead late in the half when de Andrade chipped the goalkeeper at 14:21, giving UCFC a 5–4 advantage at halftime.

The third quarter featured another flurry of goals. Empire scored twice at 2:40 and 6:29 to go ahead 6–5, but Utica answered with goals from Sergio Pinal at 7:33 and Juan Alava at 9:01 to take a 7–6 lead. After Empire tied it again at 11:09, Utica struck just 12 seconds later when Mehrshad Ahmadi finished a setup from Barbaro Shelier, sending UCFC into the fourth up 8–7.

Empire tied the match at 2:17 of the fourth quarter, but Shelier restored the Utica lead at 4:45. The Strykers once again used the extra attacker to equalize at 10:45, setting up a dramatic finish. With 31 seconds left, de Andrade buried a loose ball behind the keeper at 14:29 to lift Utica City FC to a 10–9 win.

The teams rematch Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. ET in Ontario, California. Utica City FC returns home Sunday and Monday, February 15 and 16. Tickets are available at ucfctickets.com.