ST. PAULS — As the officials and both coaches discussed how to proceed with breaking a tie after the first 80 minutes of play in Saturday’s Robeson Cup semifinal, Red Springs coach Andrew Hughes told his St. Pauls counterpart Brent Martin it was his call whether to play overtime or go straight to penalty kicks.
“I said let’s roll the dice,” Martin said later after choosing penalties. “I’m a gambling man, dude. I gambled, my heart’s racing … but luckily it went in our favor.”
St. Pauls won penalties 4-3 to advance to the tournament final, which will be Sept. 7 against Lumberton at Red Springs. After coming back to a 2-2 tie to force penalties, Red Springs will play the third-place match against Purnell Swett.
“It was just crazy, man,” St. Pauls’ Omar Canuto said. “We were up 2-0 in the first half, the second half they come with the energy and come back with two goals, (to go to) penalties. Crazy.”