Utica City FC secured a dramatic measure of revenge against David Bascome’s Baltimore Blast, snatching a sudden-death overtime victory at the TU Arena just days after suffering a New Year’s Eve defeat at the hands of the same opponents.
Following Baltimore's 5-2 victory in Utica last week, the return fixture in Maryland delivered a high-intensity spectacle that kept the home crowd on edge through four physical periods. The opening frame set a competitive tone as Mehrshad Ahmadi fired the visitors ahead midway through the period, only for Kevaughn Frater to restore parity for the Blast less than two minutes later.
The contest exploded into life during a frantic second period. Stephan Teixeira regained the lead for Utica in the opening minute, but Oumar Sylla responded with the first of his two goals to level the scores at 2-2. The lead continued to swing as Juan Alava found the net for the visitors, but Sylla’s second strike and a clinical finish from Bruno Henrique saw the Blast head into the locker room with a slender 4-3 advantage.
The momentum refused to settle in the third period as both teams traded blows with clinical efficiency. Meny Silva silenced the home support with an equaliser just 13 seconds after the restart, but Alejandro Chavez appeared to have seized the momentum back for the Blast with a well-taken goal in the fifth minute. However, Willie Spurr ensured the contest remained deadlocked by firing home to make it 5-5, before Chavez’s second of the night briefly put Bascome’s men back in the driving seat.
The final period was a masterclass in defensive resilience, with both goalkeepers producing a string of high-quality saves to keep their respective sides in the hunt. With the Blast clinging to a one-goal lead in the dying seconds, Sergio Pinal found a pocket of space to fire home a dramatic late equaliser for Utica, sending the game into a nerve-shredding overtime period.
The tension lasted just twenty seconds into the extra frame. Juan Alava proved to be the hero for the visitors, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the area to slot home the golden goal and secure a hard-fought victory for Utica City. For Bascome, the result is a difficult pill to swallow after leading late in regulation, but the performance confirms the Blast remain a formidable force in the Major Arena Soccer League as the 2026 season gets into full swing.
