JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tommy McNamara recorded a goal and assist to lead Brooklyn FC to a 2-2 draw against Sporting Club Jacksonville at Hodges Stadium on Saturday night as the visitors rallied from going down by a pair of goals inside the opening 10 minutes to claim a point in the first meeting between the expansion sides.
Jacksonville took the lead in just the third minute as Tyshawn Rose retained possession on the left side and slotted a low cross to the top of the six-yard area where Emil Jääskeläinen was on hand to provide a first-time finish. The hosts doubled their lead six minutes later when a cross from the right was turned home by Ahmad Al-Qaq as BKFC’s back line was again caught napping.
Brooklyn went close to pulling a goal back when Tommy McNamara shot high six minutes before the halftime break, but after a good start to the second half the visitors halved the deficit when Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. headed home after a near-post flick by Tommy McNamara set up the opportunity. BKFC then leveled from the penalty spot through McNamara after Markus Anderson was fouled in the area attempting to go for an angled cross to the top of the six-yard area. Jacksonville almost regained the lead with eight minutes to go when Al-Qaq was denied by BKFC goalkeeper Lukas Burns, but ultimately honors ended even between the Championship’s newcomers.
Takeaways
Sporting Club Jacksonville – Having earned their first win in the Championship on Wednesday night, Jacksonville couldn’t have made a better start against its fellow expansion side with a pair of goals in the opening 10 minutes, but the side’s defensive problems reared their head again over the final hour, allowing the visitors back into the game. Jacksonville has still yet to record a shutout in league play, a record that needs to change.
Brooklyn FC – Brooklyn was slack defensively in the opening 10 minutes, giving up to big opportunities the hosts took advantage of clinically, but the spirit the side showed to rally and earn a point while putting up more shots and more possession was impressive and fully deserving of a result. BKFC is now undefeated in its last three outings across all competitions, giving the side something to build on as it tries to stay in touch with the playoff race.