In another dramatic finish at Flames Field, Nkusuwila Zulu netted the golden goal to give UIC a 3-2 win over Oakland Saturday afternoon.  The sophomore's first career goal completed a comeback from two goals down, and gave the Flames their 20^th straight win at home.  That broke the program record of 19 set between 1997 and 2000.

The Golden Grizzlies had been undefeated in Horizon League play.  At 4-1-1, they are still one point ahead of the 4-1 Flames, but UIC now has the all-important tiebreaker for postseason tournament seeding.

It was the second straight home match that required a comeback and extra time.  Goals by Bukola Abdulwahab and Jesus Perez brought the Flames level by the 75^th minute.  Zulu's goal came on the first shot by either side in overtime.

Moments That Mattered

• Oakland scored less than a minute into the match.  The Flames turned the ball over in their own end, passing out of the corner to a central location where Noah Jensen took possession.  He quickly finished to make it 1-0.
• After the Flames came back with energy, Oakland fouled in the box in the seventh minute.  Bar Hazut tried the penalty kick, but shot to a spot where Sullivan Lauderdale could dive and make the save.
• Sullivan was tested a few more times as the Flames controlled much of the possession and opportunities for the next half hour.  The Golden Grizzlies found their footing and put a couple of shots on Sokratis Vasilas' net, the second of which came from 40 yards away.  Vasilas blocked it down in front of him, where Charlie Braithwaite was closing in and cleaned up the rebound.
• Oakland had the better of play for the first 10 minutes of the second half, as they sent two shots on goal and had a third go over the bar.  After they picked up a yellow card in the 57^th minute, the momentum swung to UIC.
• Bukola Abdulwahab got the Flames on the board shortly after the caution.  Pau Mateo played him into the box and he beat Lauderdale to the far post.  Just after the restart, Abdulwahab found himself on a breakaway and it was only a nice save by Lauderdale coming off his line that kept the score 2-1.
• The Flames continued to apply pressure and earned a corner kick.  After it was volleyed around, Jesus Perez wound up for a shot that got blocked, but further toward the net where Bar Hazut was stationed.  His shot was saved on the line in the midst of a mass of humanity.
• A later corner kick found the head of Jacob Graiber, but the redirection just missed the target.  Then a bout of possession went Oakland's way and Vasilas needed to make two saves.  After those threats subsided, Hazut played ahead to Zulu, whose cross found the foot of Perez as he dove to get in position.  His redirection, a true thing of beauty, tied the match at 2.
• The Flames had the rest of regulation's opportunities, buoyed when they went up a man due to a red card in the 83^rd minute.  None of them were as dangerous as a play early in overtime when Roberto Alonzo sent a cross to Hazut that the latter would surely have headed in, but for Lauderdale intercepting it.
• Zulu was able to dribble in space, advancing toward the net, and when he was given enough space to take a shot, he left no doubt with a rocket to the far post that rendered Lauderdale unable to move.

Postgame Reaction

• Jesus Perez and Nkusuwila Zulu
  
• Sean Phillips
  

Facts and Figures

• Eduardo Huerta made his first start.
• Abdulwahab scored for the fourth straight game.  It was his fifth goal overall.
• The Flames improved to 5-1 in overtime contests.
• Perez tabbed his fifth goal to move alone into second place on the team.
• Hazut's assist gave him a team-high 22 points.
• Vasilas made a career high seven saves.
• UIC has not lost consecutive games all year.
• Zulu became the 12^th player to score a goal.
• The Flames held advantages in shots (21-14) and shots on goal (13-9).
• Hazut had made his only previous PK attempt.  The team is now 2-for-4 from the spot.
• UIC's 10 corner kicks were one shy of their season high.
• Perez took a team high six shots.  Jensen led everyone with eight attempts.
• In addition to the red card, Oakland gathered two yellow cards.  Perez was the only Flame booked.

Up Next

• UIC will be on the road for two of its final three matches.
• The first of the batch is a trip to IUPUI next Saturday.
• The noon kickoff will match teams who met in last year's Horizon League semifinal.