Austin-East defeated Gatlinburg-Pittman in PKs to win the Class A state championship on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo: Danny Parker)
MURFREESBORO — It’s likely the feel-good story of the 2021 Spring Fling.
After a year of untold tragedies and horrors at Austin-East, the East Knoxville school found cause for a raucous celebration Friday thanks to an unlikely band of soccer players.
The Roadrunners rallied late in the second overtime to tie the game 3-3, and then won in a PK shootout to edge District 2-A rival Gatlinburg for the state Class A championship at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.
A-E, in its first state soccer tournament in school history, finished with three wins over the Highlanders and a 15-2-1 record.
“I’m out of words, out of breath … Austin-East is state champs,” said Roadrunners coach Jonathan Netherland.
“This is for the East side of Knoxville. This is history. We showed up and showed it. We had to fight through adversity all year. We just had to keep believing.”
In business since 1906, FirstBank still keeps a fresh approach to banking that is more local, more accessible and more empowering. 5Star Preps is proud to have them sponsor the Spring Fling coverage this week.
G-P, which won the state title in 2018 and was 2019 runner-up, finishes an otherwise great season 20-4-2.
The game was chock full of drama and wild momentum swings. Just when it looked like one side was about to pull away, back came the other team.
The Highlanders scored less than five minutes into the game when Bryson Flynn assisted Tristan Carroll for the goal.
But back came A-E behind the play of fast and aggressive forward Masudi Nymebo.
He scored less than a minute after Carroll to tie the game at 1-1.
Nyembo’s goal in the 33rd minute provided the Roadrunners a 2-1 cushion at the half, which was mostly played in a driving rain.
“He’s one of my most dynamic attackers,” said Netherland
G-P, which was outplayed for much of the second half, suddenly came alive late in regulation.
Johny Adair scored on a drive down the left side to knot the count at 2-2 in the 76th minute to force overtime.
After the first scoreless 10-minute overtime, Adair struck again.
G-P scored in the second minute of the second overtime as Adair found net in the right side of the goal to edge the Highlanders back in front 3-2.
But A-E wasn’t done yet.
Cheikhna Seck tallied on a penalty kick with 6:29 to play and the game eventually went to the PK shootout.
Tambola had a stop on G-P’s second PK and another attempt hit the crossbar.
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners didn’t miss in the shootout.
Marius Irankkunda, Mekhi Stewart, Enrique Torres-Gahmez and finally Seck scored to clinch the milestone victory.
The on-the-field celebration was spontaneous, wild and genuine.
For at least a few minutes, there was a collective sigh of relief.
“It was like all of these problems just floated away,” said Netherland.
“We’ve prayed for this victory so much.”