Wheeling, W.Va - The Wheeling Men's Soccer Team (0-5)(2-1) entered their fifth conference match up this afternoon, as they welcomed Concord to Bishop Schmitt Field. It was a frustrating afternoon for the Cardinals who couldn't find a way past the Mountain Lion's defense as they fell 4-0.
The Cardinals started the game on the front foot, as Jon-Michael Gordon saw a shot miss just wide just as the clock passed four minutes. Wheeling won a corner just 20 seconds later, but it unfortunately came to nothing, and Concord set out on the attack. They had three shots in the space of two minutes, all of them failing to trouble Alberto Madail in the Cardinal goal. As the game approached the 20th minute, Concord found their range. The Mountain Lions found their first goal in the 19th minute, and Wheeling were on the back foot.
Wheeling brought on Davide Massa and Charlie Goldsmith in midfield with hopes of igniting an equalizer for the Cardinals, but the Mountain Lions stayed strong at the back. Wheeling went a man down after Charlie Goldsmith was shown a red card in the 39th minute, and following a late save by Alberto Madail, the half came to a close with the score 1-0 Concord.
Concord wasted no time upon the restart, as they found a way through for their second goal just 43 seconds into the half, courtesy of Stephane Shongo. It was all Concord to start the second as the Cardinals struggled to settle into a rhythm, and the Mountain Lions broke through once more in the 51st minute to make it 3-0, again courtesy of Stephane Shongo. Wheeling were left with a mountain to climb, and the Concord pressure didn't subside.
Alberto Madail would make three saves in the next 15 minutes as Concord were dominating possession in the hunt for their fourth. Wheeling stood strong and showed some character as they started to trouble the Concord keeper. Mars Kubanga and Elie Simon both had shots that missed just over, before Javier Ramos had a shot destined for the top corner saved. Concord would again find a rhythm in the Wheeling penalty area in the final 10 minutes, and would find their fourth and final goal of the game early in the 85th minute. It would cap off a disappointing afternoon for the Cardinals, as the game finished 4-0.
The Wheeling Men's Soccer Team return to action on Wednesday, September 30th, as they travel to West Virginia Wesleyan College.
