COLUMBIA, Mo. - Florida Atlantic (7-2) continued their winning streak with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Missouri State on Friday evening at the Missouri State Soccer Complex. The Owls extended their winning run to three matches in a contest that featured multiple momentum shifts and intense tactical battles.
The match saw both teams trading opportunities early, with Mamadou Diarra testing the Missouri State defense with a low shot in the 9th minute. Fumiya Shiraishi responded for the Bears in the 17th minute with a shot that drifted wide left, setting the tone for an evenly matched first half.
The opening period featured disciplined defensive play from both sides, with Missouri State's Daniel Souza making his presence felt through several crucial interventions. Florida Atlantic's David Roberts created danger in the 26th minute with a shot that narrowly missed the target, while Diego Real threatened for the Bears with back-to-back attempts in the 39th minute.
The second half saw increased intensity and multiple tactical adjustments. Francesco Aiello received a yellow card for Florida Atlantic in the 46th minute, followed by cautions to Missouri State's Daniel Souza and James Jennings in quick succession around the 51st minute. The Bears' Harry Hogben was also cautioned in the 57th minute as the match's physical nature escalated.
Florida Atlantic demonstrated superior offensive efficiency, recording 10 shot attempts with 6 on target compared to Missouri State's 7 shots with 3 on target. The Owls also held an advantage in corner kicks (5-3), though the Bears remained dangerous on set pieces throughout the match.
Eli Conway emerged as a key figure for Florida Atlantic in the latter stages, creating two significant chances in the 83rd minute. Aboubacar Traore's presence in midfield proved crucial for the Owls, though his yellow card in the 45th minute required careful management of his defensive responsibilities. Missouri State's James Jennings saw his evening end early with a red card in the 90th minute.
Both teams executed significant personnel changes throughout the match, with Missouri State making strategic substitutions at halftime, including the withdrawal of Fionn Mooney, Diego Real, and Jared Harlock. Florida Atlantic countered with their own tactical adjustments, notably removing Oliver Moller-Jensen, Eli Conway, and Aboubacar Traore at the break.
The victory maintains Florida Atlantic's impressive form, having now won three consecutive matches following previous successes against Temple and FIU. The result showcases the Owls' ability to secure difficult road victories, while Missouri State demonstrated their competitive spirit despite the narrow defeat.
The match's disciplinary record, featuring six yellow cards and one red, reflected its competitive nature, though both teams managed to maintain their tactical discipline throughout most of the encounter. Missouri State's late red card to Jennings proved costly in their attempts to find a late equalizer.
Florida Atlantic will look to extend their winning streak when they host FGCU on October 8th, while Missouri State will aim to bounce back from this narrow defeat in their next fixture. The Owls' ability to secure three points on the road further cements their status as a formidable force in collegiate soccer.