Facing an early 2-0 deficit and playing a man down in the second half, Republic nearly staged a comeback against Neosho, but couldn’t finish the job in a 2-1 loss.
In the opening half, Neosho’s Marcos Ajtun was the first to score at 28:27, finding the net on a deflection after Republic’s Xavier Ulshafer had already made back-to-back saves. Republic tried to respond quickly. Santino Stiglianese and Diego Zuniga both took shots that required diving saves from Neosho’s goalie, Trenton Price. Not long after, Mason Cole made a long attempt from 30 yards out, but Price tipped it over the crossbar. Neosho’s Erick Majia then widened the gap, making it 2-0 at 8:01.
The challenges mounted for Republic in the second half after Brayden Tharp received a red card. That forced Republic to play with only ten players on the field in the second half.
Facing long odds at halftime, coach Jesus Zuniga told his players to “play for each other, play with some heart, (and) have a little pride. Actually play soccer, move the ball around, just trust each other, and work for each other.”
They did that, and it made a difference. Just three minutes after halftime, Stiglianese took the ball into the box and was knocked down, but didn’t get a foul call. Four minutes later, a shot by Mason Tackett from the left wing sailed high and wide right. The Tigers got their best chance so far when a penalty was called in the box against Neosho, but Stiglianese’s penalty kick missed wide.
Still, less than two minutes after that, Republic finally found the net. Mason Cole lofted a free kick from the 40-yard line that Stiglianese connected with, directing it past Price for Republic’s first goal.
The pressure continued from both sides. Stiglianese’s shots kept Price busy, with one bending shot being deflected and another forcing a diving save. Neosho had close calls too. Their free kick from 20 yards away went wide, and a corner that followed didn’t produce a goal. Stiglianese’s breakaway chance with nine minutes left looked promising, but Price was quick off his line, resulting in a missed shot. That was Republic’s last strong opportunity.
Zuniga said he was disappointed the Tigers didn’t show the same intensity in the first half that they did in the second. “Had we played like that the whole first half, this wasn’t even a game, in my opinion,” he said.
The loss is the fifth in a row for the Tigers, who fall to 7-10 overall. Republic is back in action against Bolivar Thursday at home.
