BOILING SPRINGS --- Campbell's Bradley Farias scored twice in the second half to lift the Camels to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Gardner-Webb in Big South Conference play on Saturday evening, after the Runnin' Bulldogs' Ali Al-Gashamy (Kristiansand, Norway) netted his team-leading sixth goal of the season midway through the first half.
Gardner-Webb (2-9-1, 0-3-1 Big South) controlled the pace of play for much of the match, outshooting Campbell (4-8, 1-3 Big South) by a 17-10 margin, including a 10-6 advantage in the second half. The Runnin' Bulldogs attempted 12 corners to Campbell's three as the two sides accounted for a combined 26 fouls and five cautions in a physical battle.
Al-Gashamy paced the Gardner-Webb attack with his sixth goal of the season, attempting seven shots in the match while putting four on frame. Patrick Gurser (Frankfurt, Germany) added four shots, including two on target, as Matthew Swan (Newport, South Wales, United Kingdom) made three saves.
Farias led the way for Campbell with a brace, scoring twice inside of two minutes just past the hour mark, while Bryce Miller added an assist. Farias and Jhuvon Francis each made four attempts at goal for Campbell, as Matthew Mozynski was credited with six saves.
Gurser nearly got the Runnin' Bulldogs off to a flying start in the 11th minute after a failed clearance fell to him at the top of the area and his blast was parried just wide of the post by Mozynski. Hernan Mogollon came within inches of curling in a free kick for the Camels in the 16th, as Swan expertly touched the strike intended for the upper 90 just high of the bar.
Al-Gashamy would break the deadlock eight minutes later, taking the ball off the center back's foot just outside the area before blasting the finish past the on-rushing keeper to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 1-0 lead after 24 minutes.
The junior forward nearly doubled his account in the 30th minute, stealing another ball of a defender's foot but sending the strike right at the keeper from 20 yards out. Gardner-Webb would carry the 1-0 advantage into the break following a late free kick from Al-Gashamy that curled inches high of the bar from 25 yards.
The best chance early in the second half came from Gardner-Webb's Nathan Rose (Bristol, England) who made a brilliant run through the heart of the Campbell defense before striking the finish right at the keeper.
Campbell would find the equalizer late on in the 66th minute, leveling the match when a turnover fell to Miller on the flank and he delivered a perfect cross to Farias, who sent the one-touch finish inside the far post to put the Camels back on terms at 1-1.
Farias would put the Camels' noses in front less than two minutes later, making a run down the flank before cutting across the byline and curling the finish low into the bottom corner to give Campbell a 2-1 advantage.
Gurser nearly leveled for Gardner-Webb early on in the 73rd minute, pouncing on a ball outside the area before an alert Mozynski slid out to scoop the ball off his foot 12 yards from goal.
The Runnin' Bulldogs continued to push forward in search of an equalizer over the final 15 minutes, sending five shots toward the Campbell net while attempting four corners. Three of the attempts belonged to Al-Gashamy, who saw one blocked, one saved and a last-gasp set piece go just high of the bar as Campbell held on for the narrow 2-1 victory.
Gardner-Webb returns to the pitch on Wednesday, October 22 when the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to Rock Hill, S.C. to take on Winthrop at 7:00 p.m. in Big South play.
