The Midland Lee Rebels dealt the Permian boys soccer team a 2-1 loss in District 2-6A play Tuesday night at Ratliff Stadium.

Goals from early in the first and second half by the Rebels turned out to be the difference as Midland Lee (8-7-1 overall, 3-4-0 district) moved up into the top four in the district standings while the Panthers (7-7-6, 2-4-1) fell out.

“In the second half, after we gave up the goal in the first half, I told the guys that we would have to score two or three more goals because our games are normally pretty exciting,” Midland Lee head coach Scott Hicks said. “So basically, I told them that we needed to score goals and we did. They did that and now we get to play Midland High on Friday.”

It didn’t take the Rebels long to find the back of the net as Esau Soto opened the scoring in the game’s seventh minute on his long shot from the left side of the target, giving Midland Lee a 1-0 lead.

Throughout much of the first half, the Rebels dominated possession, limiting Permian’s ability to set up scoring chances.

The Rebels came close to doubling their lead when Jaden Johnson sent a long-distance shot that ended up going over the cross bar and the Panthers’ deficit remained at one goal with 16:24 left in the first half.

The Panthers got a big break when Tristan Ogren sent a shot past Midland Lee goalkeeper Hayden Hicks with 15 minutes left before halftime and the Panthers had the game tied at 1-1.

But the Rebels began the second half the same way they started the first. Only this time, it took them less than a minute to find the back of the net as Alexis Guevara scored almost immediately after the start of the second half whistle, putting Midland Lee back in front.

The Panthers came agonizingly close to getting a second equalizer, squandering a couple of quick shots from up close. Humberto Zubia’s shot was deflected off the goalkeeper and Hunter Shults was there for the rebound, sending his shot wide right of the net with 31 minutes left in the game.

Guevara had another scoring opportunity with 19:45 remaining, but his shot ended up going wide right of the net and the Rebel’s lead remained at 2-1.

Both teams had numerous chances late in the game but could not find the game’s fourth goal.

Miguel Martinez fired a shot that went over the net with 10:00 left in the game.

“We just got outplayed,” Permian head coach Luis Carmona. “We made some mistakes and they capitalized on both goals. At the beginning of the game, we talked about limiting our mistakes in the back. It’s pretty hard in the first 30 seconds in the second half when we came out so relaxed when we talked about coming out so aggressive. That was the difference.”
