Parreiras, PK's propel Tropics SC to United Premier Soccer League championship

WEATHERFORD, Texas -- What a game. What a season. What a comeback!

Down two goals with less than 10 minutes to play, the Tropics SC found the mark twice -- including a brilliant stoppage time goal from Victor Parreiras -- and went to win the United Premier Soccer League national championship in penalty kicks Sunday.

Parreiras got the Tropics started on the right foot with a goal in the first round of PK"s, and got support from additional goal scorers Keisuke Ohata, Gulilherme, and team captain Lucas Montelares. 

Utah based Murcielago SLC, on goals in each half, had built a 2-0 advantage before Keisuke Ohata started the furious rally with a goal in the 83rd minute, setting the stage for Parreiras and his heroics.

Taking a perfect cross-pitch pass from long-time teammate Ricardo Diegues, Parreiras dribbled right into the box, cut back left to elude two defenders, and buried his blast from about nine-yards out to tie it in the 91st minute. 

"Victor isn't always thought of as a great goal scorer, but he is. He can finish wit the best of them," Tropics SC coach Lucas Teixeira said. "We never thought we were out of it. We have prided ourselves on hard work and teamwork from day one, and it paid off big time today. We have a lot of finishers on this team, actually. Keisuke's goal got us started, and we just were confident form that point on we would pull it out."

The Tropics finished the year with a perfect mark of 18-0-0.

Several members of the team, including Parreiras, Montelares, Guilherme, winning goalkeep Hugo Silva and Teixeira will enjoy a little time off before suiting up for the Florida Tropics when they start their fourth season in the Major Arena Soccer League late this fall at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.