Late Goal Lifts Longhorns Over Brooke House FC, 1-0

LAKE NONA – On a night that demanded a full-team effort, Nona FC fired a season-high 15 shots on target to edge past Brooke House FC, 1-0, on June 18 at Austin-Tindall Sports Complex.

The hero of the night was none other than substitute Jemone Barclay, who netted his first goal for the club to secure the Longhorns’ fourth win and fourth clean sheet of the season.

Barclay’s game-winner made him the fifth different goalscorer for Nona this season and the third player to record both at least one goal and one assist during the 2025 campaign. 

The match saw fireworks from start to finish, as Christian Acevedo forced a save out of Brooke House goalkeeper Chema Preciado just five minutes into the contest.

In the 23rd minute, the Black and Orange thought they had broken the deadlock after Henrique Cruz tapped in Joel Sangwa’s deflected header, but the referees ruled that the goalkeeper had claimed possession of the ball, negating Cruz’s score.

Just three minutes later, Brooke House knocked on the door when Finlay Prain snuck past Joel Sangwa down the right wing to test Nona goalkeeper Steingrimur Gunnarsson for the first time in the match.

After a goalless first half, the Longhorns ramped up the pressure. At around the hour mark, Nona unleashed a barrage of strikes that forced a quadruple save from Preciado to keep the scores level. 

Gameday captain Paulo Alves cut inside and chopped the ball behind his feet, creating an opening to shoot that Preciado parried away. Soon after, the ball fell to Abdou Mane, whose curler was once again denied by Preciado. That effort then presented a chance in the middle of the penalty area for substitute Andre Navas, whose shot was blocked by a defender, before Alves had another chance that sailed just wide.

In the 82nd minute, Alan Martinez’s quick thinking initiated the breakthrough for the Longhorns. After a Brooke House foul, he took a quick free kick and switched the field of play with a pinpoint long ball. Barclay outmuscled his defender to reach the goalkeeper’s box before poking in a finish into the left corner of the net, giving Nona something to show for its relentless attack.

Just two minutes later, Gunnarsson preserved the Black and Orange’s lead with a critical save when he tipped a Brooke House effort from outside of the box over the net.

Wednesday’s result sees the Longhorns jump back up into second place in the Southeast Division standings with 12 points, behind only Sporting Club JAX with 19 points, who have played two more matches.

Additionally, the midweek victory for Nona marked the squad’s fourth clean sheet of the season, all coming in matches that the Longhorns have won.

Barclay’s game-winner was the latest in a match this season, and the first by a substitute for Nona.

Nona FC now travels to Showalter Field on Saturday, June 21 to take on Brooke House FC for the third time this season, after the previous away encounter was postponed due to inclement weather.

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