BOCA RATON, Fla. - UAB (4-7-2) and Florida Atlantic (9-3-1) played to an entertaining 3-3 draw on Friday night in American Athletic Conference action, with both teams trading goals in a back-and-forth affair that saw six different players find the net.
Patrik Fagan opened the scoring for UAB in the 47th minute, but Florida Atlantic responded quickly through Kerfalla Toure in the 52nd minute off an assist from Oliver Moller-Jensen. The Owls then took the lead in the 61st minute when Fabian Wagner converted from a well-worked combination between Moller-Jensen and Felipe Santos. Moller-Jensen himself made it 3-1 in the 64th minute, finishing off a setup from Francesco Aiello and Josh Ainge. UAB mounted a comeback through Lucas Rizzo, who scored in both the 70th and 82nd minutes, with his second goal assisted by Gael Zackrisson and Carson Brice to level the match.
The first half saw Florida Atlantic control much of the possession, generating several quality chances. Ethan Schumaker tested the UAB defense early with a shot in the 2nd minute, while Andreas Raisanen and Oliver Moller-Jensen both had attempts sail just wide. The Owls' pressure resulted in five first-half corners, but UAB's defensive organization, anchored by Humphrey Doh, kept the match scoreless at the break.
The second half exploded into life with Fagan's opener, setting off a sequence of five goals in just over 30 minutes. The match took another dramatic turn in the 84th minute when FAU's Emil Lausten received a straight red card for unsporting behavior, forcing the Owls to defend with 10 men for the final minutes. Earlier, David Roberts (12th minute) and Mathis Richter (86th minute) had received yellow cards in what became an increasingly physical contest.
Final statistics reflected the even nature of the match, with Florida Atlantic recording 15 shot attempts to UAB's 5, though the Blazers were more efficient with their chances. The Owls held the advantage in corners (5-2), while UAB's goalkeeper made five crucial saves to preserve the draw. The teams combined for four cards, including Lausten's late dismissal.
Oliver Moller-Jensen was particularly influential for FAU, contributing a goal and two assists before being substituted in the 84th minute. For UAB, Lucas Rizzo's brace demonstrated his clinical finishing ability, while Gael Zackrisson's creative playmaking resulted in key assists. Mamadou Diarra showed his attacking threat for FAU with multiple dangerous attempts on goal.
The tactical battle saw UAB effectively absorb pressure and strike on the counter, while FAU dominated possession but struggled to convert their territorial advantage into goals until the second-half breakthrough. The Blazers' defensive resilience, particularly after falling behind by two goals, proved crucial in securing a valuable road point.
For Florida Atlantic, the draw represents dropped points at home as they look to maintain their strong overall record (9-3-1). UAB showed remarkable resilience in earning a point on the road, continuing their improved form after their recent victory over North Carolina.
Both teams return to action on October 29, with Florida Atlantic traveling to South Florida for a 7:00 PM kickoff, while UAB hosts FIU at 8:00 PM in another crucial conference matchup.