Lincoln rolls past East 6-0 behind explosive second-half surge
| 1H | 2H | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DES | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| DES | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Des Moines Lincoln turned a tight rivalry match into a runaway Tuesday night, pulling away from Des Moines East for a 6-0 victory after a decisive burst early in the second half. On a beautiful, mainly clear evening at Lincoln turf, the Rails scored three times in the first 10 minutes after halftime to erase any hope of an East upset and push Lincoln to 4-1-2 in front of a large home crowd.
The match opened at a measured pace, with possession changing hands often and few dangerous chances for either side. Lincoln finally broke through in the 21st minute when Daniel Salih finished a chance to give the Rails a 1-0 lead. East regrouped defensively and slowed Lincoln's momentum the rest of the half, sending the teams into halftime with the hosts still holding that one-goal edge.
Whatever suspense remained disappeared quickly after the break. Lincoln erupted for three goals in a 10-minute stretch to take firm control, turning a competitive match into a showcase of finishing and ball movement. Seniors Abel Molina-Ordaz and Brandon Hernandez-Contreras helped drive that surge, with both players scoring once and adding an assist. Hernandez-Contreras now has six goals this season, while Molina-Ordaz moved to four goals and two assists.
The production came from across the lineup. Junior Xavier Keomany recorded another assist, raising his season total to five. Brian Matute added his second goal of the season, and Salih's opener was part of a breakthrough night that also included first goals of the season from Salih and Salatiel Mashengesho. Lincoln's attack stayed sharp as the lead grew, continuing to create quality chances instead of sitting back.
Just as important, the Rails never allowed East a path back into the match. After the visitors held firm for much of the first half, Lincoln's defense kept the clean sheet intact and protected every bit of the momentum the attack created. The result was one of the team's most complete performances of the season, a six-goal rivalry win fueled by senior leadership, balanced scoring, and a second-half flurry that took over the night.
The Rails return to action tomorrow night at Hoover in big city clash versus the #4 ranked Hoover Huskies.
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