After picking up their first USL Championship win on Wednesday, Sporting Jax were looking to complete their first 6 point week in club history. It just wasn’t meant to be. After a fast start that saw 2 goals in the first 9 minutes, Sporting Jax would be pegged back in the second half, settling for their second 2-2 draw with Brooklyn FC.

The first half couldn’t have started any brighter for Sporting Jax. The third minute would see the hosts go in front. It would start with Ahmad Al Qaq winning the ball in the final third, a Brooklyn attempted clearance only going as far as Harvey Neville. Neville would pick out Tyshawn Rose with a through ball, the centering ball would find Emil Jaaskelainen in front of Rocco Romeo to beat Lukas Burns at the near post.

4 minutes later from a throw in won by Jaaskelainen, the ball would be recycled to Danny Wilson before finding Tyshawn Rose, his shot from 25 yards out slicing wide of the far post. 2 minute later Sporting Jax would double the advantage. Sporting Jax would again play it wide to Rose. His centering ball would be headed into the path of Wan Kuzain, who would lay it off to Edgardo Rito. Rito would have the space to put a second centering ball in, Al Qaq getting at touch at the far post ahead of Callum Frogson to finish in an empty net.

But Sporting Jax would allow Brooklyn to get into the contest. While Brooklyn’s chances would not be of any quality, CJ Olney Jr was nonetheless getting testing balls that kept Jake McGuire on his toes.

Come the 34th minute, on a routine long ball that went out for a goal kick, Edgardo Rito would come up limping, going immediately to ground. After 3 minutes he would walk off injured, Raheem Somersall replacing him. Sporting Jax better hope this isn’t a long term hamstring injury because when he’s 90 minutes fit, Sporting Jax’s performances have been better.

Jaaskelainen would take an Al Qaq pass a minute later and after turning Romeo, would try and go far post, Romeo with a kick save. On the other end, after Al Qaq should have been awarded a penalty when taken down in the box by Ryan McLaughlin, Juan Obregon would tee up Tommy McNamara for a shot that would go over. Going into halftime, Sporting Jax had that uneasy feeling about them.

Brooklyn FC would nearly start as fast as Sporting Jax did in the first half, Markus Anderson finding Obregon, his shot denied by McGuire at the near post with Alves’s follow up blocked. Ahmad Al Qaq would get into a dangerous position for a centering ball, but no one was around and the danger would be cleared.

The first for Sporting Jax in the 2nd half would come the 50th minute, Danny Wilson finding Tyshawn Rose for a cross too tall for Jaaskelainen, Kuzain unable to settle the ball before Burns made the save.

Brooklyn would again settle possession, Sporting Jax way to willing to play on the counter. Sporting Jax would pay for allowing Brooklyn their possession 3 minutes from the hour. After a cleared free kick, Olney Jr would get a cross into the 18 that would be headed on by McNamara, in front of Wahab Ackwei, to a waiting Obregon. With Ryan Edwards beaten it was a simple header to the near post to pull the first goal back.

It wouldn’t take long for Liam Fox to bring in the changes. Wan Kuzain would come off for Rafferty Pedder come the 62nd minute. 4 minutes later Pedder would get space from an Al Qaq pass and go for goal, Burns tipping it over the crossbar.

After the hydration break, Brooklyn would continue to build pressure, pressure that would be rewarded on 74 minutes. After Brooklyn rotated possession, Thomas Vancaeyezeele would put the ball into the box for Markus Anderson. When Anderson went to make the leap, the referee judged Ackwei to pull him to ground. Live it didn’t look like a penalty, but on replay the camera crew caught the offense when Ackwei did bring him down. Tommy McNamara would step up, and upon getting Jake McGuire to commit bury it to his right to equalize.

Kieran Sadlier would immediately come on for Emil Jaaskelainen. The change brought Sporting Jax to life with Brooklyn having to defend multiple attacking options as they would finally start to play as they did in the opening 10 minutes. Rafferty Pedder would find Al Qaq between the center backs with a well timed diagonal, the ball getting lost under his feet on the shot allowing Burns to deny.

Neither side was able to create a chance of consequence late, Brooklyn the happier of the two sides after points were shared.

Christian Olivares has been recalled from his loan with St. Louis City. It is anticipated he returns.

Sporting Jax completed a trade with Halifax Wanderers in the Canadian Premier League to bring defender Marcus Godinho, 28, to the club. In completing the transaction Sporting Jax would send forward Adonijah Reid the other way. Godinho has spent time with Toronto FC, Hearts, Vancouver Whitecaps before stops in Poland and Sweden. After Saturday night, the more help they can get the better.

Announced attendance: 1,193