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PONTIAC, MI – (League Report) Jesus Sanchez scored in the 89th minute as the Kitsap Pumas took a dramatic 2-1 victory against the Ocala Stampede in the first semifinal at the 2014 PDL Championship presented by Nike at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Friday evening. Kitsap, the 2011 champion, had taken the lead late in the first half through Joaquin Rivas, but Lewis Hilton got Ocala back on level terms just before the halftime break, only for Sanchez to steal victory with his late finish.

The Pumas will play the host Michigan Bucks on Sunday. The Bucks rallied to advance to the Final with a 2-1 win over the Jersey Express.

The winning goal came from a Pumas corner kick from the left that was cleared by the Stampede defense. The ball came to Pat Kelly 35 yards from goal, and the midfielder advanced forward before taking a shot that deflected to Pumas defender Rene Dezorzi. The center back had the presence to find an open Sanchez on the right side of the penalty area, and the diminutive midfielder slotted his finish low into the right corner to send his side into massive celebration.

“I try to stay involved in the play as much as I can, that’s one of the attributes I feel like I bring, and Rene just laid it off for me,” Sanchez said. “If there’s one thing throughout the whole season we’ve found a way to win. Whether it comes down to the last minute, or if we’re down one or two goals, we’ve found a way to win, and we build on that.”

The Pumas opened the game brightly and Rivas twice went close to scoring in the opening five minutes. The first chance came from a free kick 25 yards out that Ocala goalkeeper Lex Craggs did well to turn around the left post, and the second on a clear chance from 15 yards that slid just wide after Rivas was found unmarked as a flicked header put him in on goal.

The Stampede’s first real opportunity arrived in the 10th minute as a long ball over the top found Karamba Janneh, but an excellent challenge by Kitsap All-League defender Cory Keitz denied the effort. Kietz was on hand again moments later to snuff out another promising Ocala move and then the Pumas got to work again in the attacking third, only for Sanchez’s shot to go just wide of the right post.

The pace slowed after a frenetic first 15 minutes, but as the half progressed Kitsap began to build pressure again on the Stampede’s defense. Tommy Catalano came close to giving his side the lead in the 39th minute as he found space on the left side of the penalty area, but his curling effort to the far post went just wide. Three minutes later, however, the Pumas had the lead as Rivas got possession in space in the right side of the penalty area and drove a low shot into the left corner of the net.

The goal appeared to have set Kitsap up with a halftime lead, but the Stampede hit back in spectacular fashion in the final minute of the half. After a foul 30 yards from goal, Ocala midfielder Lewis Hilton curled a tremendous free kick over the defensive wall and in off the left post that pulled the sides level as they went to the break.

The Pumas rebounded well after the break and had the better of possession as the game resumed. Ocala was dangerous on the counter-attack, though, and almost took the lead in the 57th minute when Hilton found space on the right side, only for Kitsap’s Trevor Jensen to make a last-gasp sliding challenge to block his shot. Janneh also had an effort blocked from 10 yards out seven minutes later, and Kitsap went close when Mike Chamberlain had a fine header tipped over the crossbar by Craggs.

Ocala continued to press as the second half wore on. Substitute Kyle Breitmeyer almost broke the deadlock in the 81st minute, only for a through-ball to be swept up by Kitsap goalkeeper Matt Grosey, and the Pumas charged down another effort by the Stampede less than a minute later.

Kitsap then pushed forward in search of a late winner, only for a half-chance that dropped to Kelly to be sent over the crossbar, and Craggs’ to claim a good cross intended for Chamberlain. In the dying moments before the game headed to extra time, however, Sanchez struck to give his side the chance at its second PDL Championship.

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