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Jesus Morales PK lifts Morton to win
Morton's Jesus Morales and Brian Tapie (7) celebrate after Morales' winning goal in overtime against Lyons in the sectional semifinal on Oct. 26, 2011 in Hinsdale. Morton won in overtime 4-3. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
Updated: October 26, 2011 10:06PM
Jesus Morales only had one idea in mind. “I just knew I had to make it for myself and my team.”
The Morton senior midfielder scored on a penalty kick with six seconds remaining in the second overtime to lead Morton to the 4-3 victory over Lyons in a class 3A sectional semifinal Wednesday night.
The Mustangs (20-3-1) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first nine minutes on goals by Morales and Alonso Torres. The Lions (14-5-3) stormed back
with three goals in the second half. Star senior midfielder Elliot Borge scored one and assisted Kevin Shaw to knot the score at 2-2. Lyons went up 3-2 on Kovas Gygas’ goal in the 77th minute. But Joel Leon tied the game one minute later to force the overtime.
Morales’s PK score resulted when Lions was called for an illegal hand ball inside the box.
This is the eighth time in the last fifteen years that Morton and Lyons have faced each other in the state tournament. All eight games have been decided by one goal and Morton snapped a personal three-game losing streak in the state tournament.
“This game had a little bit of everything,” Morton coach Mike Caruso said. “The wind was in our advantage at the start and we used it to get that early lead. We made some boneheaded plays in that second half, but fortunately were able to get the score late to force the overtime. Soccer is a crazy game like that.”
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