In a highly anticipated home debut, Huntsville City FC showcased their resilience as they clinched a thrilling comeback victory against Crown Legacy FC, earning them the honor of Team of Matchday 9.
With an electric atmosphere at the Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium, the team's first sellout crowd of 5,605 fans witnessed an unforgettable match.
The game kicked off with an early setback for Huntsville City FC when Crown Legacy FC's Jacob Williams found the back of the net in the fifth minute, earning his first goal of the season and giving his team an early lead.
However, Huntsville City FC refused to give up and launched a comeback right before halftime.
In the 42nd minute, Randall Leal delivered a clever pass to Jonathan Bolanos in the box, who then unleashed a shot into the bottom-left corner, marking his second goal of the campaign, leveling the score, and sending The Joe into a frenzy.
As both teams intensified their pursuit of a winning goal in the second half, Huntsville City FC found their breakthrough in the 70th minute.
Ollie Wright launched a beautiful over the top ball from Huntsville City FC’s own half to a streaking Azaad Liadi who confidently slotted the ball past the Crown Legacy FC keeper for his third goal of the season.
Liadi’s goal sealed the victory for the home side and earned the first-ever home win for Huntsville City FC.
After the game, Huntsville City FC's head coach, Jack Collison, expressed his immense pride in his players' dedication and hard work.
"It's been tough on the road. There have been some dark moments. And as I say fair play to that group of players in there - because they bring it every single day and tonight I'm really pleased because they got their reward. And that feeling at the end, we've asked them to savor it and remember it" Collison stated.
The victory was not only a night to remember for Huntsville City FC but also prevented Crown Legacy FC from setting a new MLS NEXT Pro record for consecutive wins. A triumph for Crown Legacy FC would have surpassed the seven straight wins record set by the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Champions, Columbus Crew 2.
The hard-fought comeback victory marked a significant milestone in the Huntsville City FC’s journey in MLS NEXT Pro. With their devoted fanbase and a determined squad, Huntsville City FC looks poised to leave their mark on the league.
