Amarillo explodes for seven straight goals to quell Inferno, take Rocky Mountain Invitational title

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – What a difference a couple of weekends can make.

The FC Amarillo Bombers exploded for seven straight goals in the second half to extinguish the Colorado Inferno FC, 10-7, as part of a perfect weekend to win the Major Arena Soccer League 2 Rocky Mountain Invitational.

Two weekends ago, the Bombers were winless in three starts at the Heartland Invitational, but now stand at 2-3 in the current M2 2021 regular season standings, good for third place behind the Wichita Wings (3-0) and Inferno (3-2).

Vitor Patriani netted four goals to lead the Bombers to their big win. The high-flying forward had 21 goals in just nine M2 games last year, and has six goals and five assists four games this year. 

The Inferno had a comfortable 6-2 lead in the final minute of the first half before Patriani’s second of the game cut the lead to three goals with just 21 seconds to go before intermission. Amarillo then reeled off another six straight, taking the lead for good when Louis Gueye found the back of the net with just one second to go in the third.

Patriani added an assist for a five-point game while teammate Julio Molina added a goal and three assists. The Bombers also got goals from Miguel Reyes, Conrod Goulbourne, Jake Rudder and Kevin Machado. Jack Reynolds had two goals for Collard while Armando Gonzalez, Raul Elias and Josue Jimenez each had a goal and an assist. 

Earlier in the days, the Bombers put themselves in position to take the tournament crown with an 8-7 overtime win against the Omaha Kings FC (1-4). Goulbourne got the game winner at the 9:25 mark of the extra period. The Kings forced the OT session on a goal by Merilo Ceruli with 1:22 to go in regulation, one of two sixth-attacker goals scored by Omaha just 66 seconds apart.

Patriani actually led all Bombers’ scorers with three assists. Molina had two goals while Reyes and Lucca Lima each had a goal and an assist.

The invitational’s four-team field was rounded out by the Premier Arena Soccer League FC Alliance, who we’re more than representative in falling to the Inferno 8-5, and Amarillo, 12-11. Only games in which two M2 teams played each other counted towards the league’s regular season standings.

Additional regular season games will be announced shortly, as will news about new teams joining the M2 family for this season and beyond. For the latest information, visit m2soccer.com or the league’s social media platforms.