Bowling Green Football Club dominated the first 70 minutes of the 231 Derby vs. Beaman United FC on Friday night to take a 2-0 lead. However, tragedy struck late as Beaman United scored the equalizer in the 96-minute. 

The Golden Lions held the defending UPSL Kentucky/Tennessee Division Champs to a nil-nil halftime score despite having a goal by #9 Alvarez wiped away in the 27 minute. Both teams had good bouts of position and opportunities to score in the first half, but BGFC Keeper Oliver Gonzalez kept the Golden Lions in the match with several saves. 

The deadlock was broken when #9 Alvarez struck gold in the 48 minute to put the Golden Lions up 1-0 as he snuck a bal past the BU Keeper. Tensions ran high for both teams in the next few minutes as Beaman United #25 Alfonzo Gooden clotheslined #6 Lopez for BGFC as if he was Mick Foley giving a Cactus Clothesline in the WWE ring in the 49 minute. This sent both teams into a frenzy, pushing and shoving one another, leading to a yellow card being shown to Gooden from Beaman. 

BGFC doubled their lead in the 61 minute as their Captain Michael Swierkosz went five-hole on the Beamen keeper on a deep free kick. #20 Abudiore for Beamen showed a yellow card in 65 minutes but BGFC was not able to capitalize this time as the Beamen keeper made a nice save.

The captain and goal-scorer Swierkosz was subbed off in the 75 minute with a back/hib injury. It was at this point that BGFC subs started to not be as productive as their starters, and the game started to change. 

In the 77 minute Schunke scored for Beaman United on a fantastic header past a frustrated BGFC Keeper Gonzalez. The Refs had a long conversation about this goal as well, but unlike the earlier BGFC goal that was called off was upheld. Now with a 2-1 lead, BGFC tried to bunker down and hold on for their first win in the 231 Derby; however, the universe had other plans.

After controlling most of the final 20 minutes, BGFC #11 Will Bryan had a chance to put the nail in this one, but he was cut down short of the goal, and the Beaman keeper made an easy save. And in 96 minutes it happened. #10 S. Poku, brother to the coach Poku, tied the match with a tap in goal just past BGFC Keeper Gonzalez. 

Just like that, the match ended as it started, a draw. While the Golden Lions have come a long way from a 7-1 defeat last spring to mostly the same team, the draw still stinks as they had a 2-goal lead for 76 minutes. 

This beautiful colorful kit match sent Beaman United to the top of the table in the UPSL Kentucky/Tennessee Division (a win the following day also helped) and kept BGFC in 5th place, the last team to make the playoffs; if the playoffs were to start today. 

BGFC will remain at home on Friday, May 5th at 7:30 PM for a match-up with Midwest Hooligans, who currently sit at the bottom of the UPSL Kentucky/Tennessee Division but beat BGFC last spring 3-0. 

Will BGFC come out looking to make a statement and get their second win of the season, or will there be a huge upset here in Bowling Green on Friday Night? You will have to come out to Preston Miller Park to find out.