AFC Mobile finished their second NPSL season with a thrilling 6-2 win over Tallahassee Soccer Club on Saturday night in Mobile. Forward Ronaldo Fortune scored half of Mobile’s goals on the night, netting the first hat trick for the club in the NPSL.
The visitors opened the scoring in the second minute of the match when Sy Fontenot slotted home a low-rolling shot off a quick restart after a foul outside the penalty area. The Azaleas equalized five minutes later in the ninth minute after a long ball from the backfield that found the feet of Fortune, who scored his first of the night.
The Azaleas doubled their tally in the 13th minute after a charging Jose Reis played a low-rolling rocket of a cross that was turned into the net by Chris Salamatou.
Fortune doubled his tally on the night after picking up a Tallahassee giveaway in the 37th minute. In the 42nd minute, the referee showed Eddie Dakwa a straight red card for the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity for Tallahassee. The Azaleas went into the locker room at halftime up 3-1 but down to 10 men.
Shortly after the start of the second half, Tallahassee won the ball in midfield and strung together a few passes that found the feet of Sy Fontenot, who scored his second goal of the night, cutting Mobile’s lead to one. The Azaleas scored their fourth goal in the 67th minute after a long ball from Mobile keeper Will Blake was headed into the feet of Salamatou who scored his second goal of the match, bringing the score to 4-2.
Fortune completed his hat trick in the 88th minute. Mobile’s Iba Ndaw, who in Wednesday night’s game in Pensacola tied Chisom Ogbonna for the most goals in the club’s history, stepped up to take a free kick from a few yards outside of the box. Ndaw’s shot was saved, but Fortune slotted home the rebound to bring the score to 5-2.
“We haven’t had the greatest season,” Fortune said. “We’ve faced a lot of adversity, and today was just the boys coming out and putting on a big performance for the people that have stuck with us this whole season. And yeah, I scored three goals, but the most important thing was playing our last game together, playing for the badge, playing for AFC Mobile, and honestly playing for Mobile in general.”
Mobile scored their sixth and final goal of the night in the 93rd minute when Edy Gael played the ball to Fortune down the right wing. Fortune sent the ball into the box to find Gael who slotted the ball home. Minutes later, the referee blew the whistle, and the match ended 6-2.
AFC Mobile finished the season in fifth place, just outside of the Gulf Coast Conference playoff spots with 13 points.
