OAKWOOD, Ga. — Despite some new faces and both teams battling some early-season injuries, it was just your typical annual showdown between the Johnson-Gainesville boys soccer teams Friday night at The Dungeon.
The Knights got an early second-half goal from Jorge Sandoval, and then keeper Kristian Hernandez made two late saves to preserve a tense 2-1 victory for the Knights.
It was the 12th time in the last 13 meetings that the match has been decided by one goal or penalty kicks. Last year’s 3-0 Johnson win was the only one since 2009 that was decided by multiple goals.
It was the first action of the season for Sandoval, who carried the Knights (3-0) to a Class 5A state title last year. Playing limited minutes, he made them count as he was able to get into the Gainesville box and slide a low shot past Red Elephants’ keeper Wilberth Orellana Torres in the 49th minute for the eventual game-winner.
“Jorge has been coming off a little injury, and we’ve been trying to take care of him. This was his first game with us this year,” Johnson coach Frank Zamora said. “He’s a big part of our team, and we’re trying to get him and everyone else ready for region play.”
After Sandoval’s goal, Gainesville (3-1) turned up the offensive pressure but only could get two real scoring threats over the final 31 minutes. However, the best one came in the final 20 seconds as a long 35-yard blast was knocked down by Hernandez and blasted out of the zone as Ramon Aguilar was able to dribble out the last 10 seconds on a run into Gainesville territory.
“I expected a tough game, and we got one,” Zamora said. “Gainesville is well-coached, and they wanted it after last year. We gave up a bad turnover and a goal, but we were able to get the winning goal and hang on.”
Gainesville coach Eli Viviant, whose squad was missing two starters and another key player with injuries as well, was more than pleased with his group’s effort.
“I thought we played well, but (Johnson) played a little bit better than us,” Viviant said. “It was a good game. It would have been a great game if we had won. But I feel we’re moving in the right direction.”
Johnson went on the attack early, controlling most of the action on the Gainesville side of the field. However, the Red Elephants got the first scoring chance on a counter with Antonio Turcios getting a point-blank range shot that Hernandez was able to make an acrobatic save to keep it scoreless.
The Knights capitalized on the ensuing possession Edgar Vaazquez fed Aguilar on a beautiful pass inside the box, and Aguilar drilled a low shot past a diving Torres for a 1-0 lead just four minutes in.
Ten minutes later, Gainesville took advantage of a big Johnson turnover as Ozmar Marceleno stole a lazy crossing pass deep in the Knights’ territory and beat Hernandez to tie the match at 1-1.
Neither offense could generate a real scoring threat the rest of the half until the final minute when Sandoval just missed on two shots inches over the crossbar just before the half.
NOTES: The match was also part of the Copa 985 series, with the Knights staying perfect so far on the season (3-0). It was the first Copa loss for Gainesville (3-1). ... Gainesville had won the last two meetings in the series at The Dungeon until Friday. It was the first Johnson win at home in the series since 2016.
JOHNSON GIRLS 3,
GAINESVILLE 0
The Lady Knights got their first win of the season and picked up some key points in the Copa 985 league with a shutout win over the Lady Red Elephants at home.
Junior Joana Marban broke a scoreless tie with a goal midway through the first half, and Johnson broke it open in the second.
Sophomore Skyler Robinson pushed the lead to 2-0 with 28 minutes left in the match, and then freshman Gissell Garcia scored less than five minutes later to make it 3-0. Sophomore Ailyn Ponce-Lagos completed the scoring with a breakaway goal with just 1:34 left.
It was the first Copa 985 loss (3-1) for the Lady Red Elephants, who are 2-2 overall in GHSA play.
The Lady Knights are 1-2 overall and 1-2 in Copa play.
