Controversial calls costs Bombers first win of the season

Midwest City’s Isaiah Frazier fights for possession against an El Reno player Friday night. Photo by Jeff Harrison

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

The Midwest City boys soccer team lost to El Reno 5-3 in a controversial overtime match Friday night at Rose Field.

The Bombers scored first in overtime on a goal by Isaiah Frazier with 7 minutes remaining in the first OT period. The score should have given Midwest City their first win of the season.

Instead of ending the match, the referee motioned to restart the action until Midwest City’s coach and athletic director stepped in. The officials briefly reversed their decision, before leaving the field to confer. They came back shortly after and determined that the teams should continue playing the full overtime (two 10-minute periods) contrary to OSSAA overtime rules.

Midwest City played the remainder of the overtime in protest.

El Reno’s Tristan Chandler scored three goals in overtime to give El Reno a 5-3 victory.

The Bombers plan to appeal the ruling with the OSSAA.

According to OSSAA rules, if a district match ends in a tie, there shall be two 10-minute sudden victory overtime periods. The team who scores the first goal will be declared the winner and the match will be terminated.

Edel Galdamez and Ramon Jimenez both scored for Midwest City in regulation.

Galdamez scored on a penalty kick early in the first period to give Midwest City a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, El Reno tied the score on a penalty kick by Alan Gonzalez about nine minutes into the period.

Midwest City regained control when Jimenez scored on a header with 21 minutes remaining in the match. Galdamez lofted the ball on a corner kick and Jimenez knocked it in behind the keeper.

But the lead wouldn’t last long. Chandler beat the goalkeeper to tie the score at 2-2 with 16 minutes remaining.

Midwest City scored first in the sudden death overtime, but the game continued. El Reno scored twice for the 5-3 win.