Merritt Island On To State Final, Beat Immokalee 1-0

By  //  February 13, 2015

Penalty kick with 8 seconds left

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The Merritt Island boys soccer team defeated Immokalee 1-0 in the state semi-final matchup Thursday afternoon. (Image by SpaceCoastDaily)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Merritt Island boys soccer team defeated Immokalee 1-0 in the state semi-final matchup Thursday afternoon.

The win gives the Mustangs a state final berth set for Friday at 8:05 p.m.

The Mustangs never did score a goal on their own due to a 42nd minute own goal by Immokalee, which later proved to be the difference in the match.

The fireworks were at the end of the game because of a hand ball in the box by Merritt Island with 8 seconds left.

Immokalee had a chance to tie the game with a penalty kick however it was the Mustangs’ day as Bruce Tanner deflected the Gary Garcia penalty kick that backspinned off the goal line to give Merritt Island state championship berth.

The rule states that the ball must clear the line but the ball never cleared the line, according to the official.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

(Video by Zach Clark)

Immokalee outshot the Mustangs 8 to 5 but Merritt Island’s defense reigned supreme on the day, thanks to Bruce Tanner’s 4 saves.

Merritt Island now takes on Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) for the class 3A state championship at Eastern Florida State College’s campus in Melbourne.