The Odessa High and Permian boys soccer teams knew their first meeting of the 2022 season would be highly contested.
It’s how their previous showdowns have gone.
This time around, the Bronchos held off a late push from the Panthers to grab a 2-1 victory in District 2-6A play Tuesday at Ratliff Stadium.
“This is a game that, it doesn’t matter how you win or what the score is, you’ve just got to get the win,” Odessa High coach Eliseo Ortiz said. “It’s just a very difficult, difficult game.”
Odessa High started the contest as the more aggressive team on the offensive end, with Fernando Flores taking two early shots on goal for the Bronchos.
Both teams saw their midfield players step up to the challenge of slowing down explosive counterattacks and that kept the sides scoreless in the game’s first 13 minutes.
The Bronchos got the scoring started when Ethan Wagner booted a long pass forward from beyond midfield, finding Camilo Nicolas on the left wing.
Nicolas sent in a low cross that was pushed in by JJ Muela to give Odessa High a lead with a little over 26 minutes left in the first half.
Defending moved to the forefront for both teams through the rest of the period, as neither the Bronchos nor Panthers created dangerous looks before the break.
Odessa High remained consistent in its search for goal scoring opportunities and it paid with about 19 minutes left in the second half.
With most of Permian’s players up in attack, Muela took control of a clearance and used his speed to get past the last defender, placing a shot in the top right corner of the Permian goal.
The Panthers started surging late in the game, receiving a boost after Damian Gonzales chipped a shot over the Odessa High goalkeeper with 12 minutes remaining in the game.
Permian almost tied the game up when Adrian Martinez found himself with the ball in front of the Bronchos’ goal, but his shot went outside the right post by a narrow margin.
The Bronchos held on to seal the rivalry win.
Permian boys soccer coach Luis Carmona was impressed with the way his team regrouped after going down two goals.
“The fight that they showed to the end was incredible,” Carmona said. “We didn’t get the result that we wanted, but the fight was there.
“There’s plenty of games to go.”
Permian will look to bounce back from the loss against Midland High at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, while the Bronchos will host Midland Legacy at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ratliff Stadium.
>> Follow Chris Amaya onTwitter at @OA_CAmaya
