Blazer knock off Rams, 3-1

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Playing on the road against NCAA Division I top 25 University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the Mobile Rams battled tough for a half before giving up three second half goals in losing 3-1 Tuesday night in an exhbition match played in Birmningham, Alabama.

After fighting to a 0-0 halftime score, the Rams fell behind in the 50th minute when UAB sophomore Ian Backstrom took the ball down the right side of the field and found Jerson Monteiro who headed the ball into the back of the net to give UAB a 1-0 lead.

However, Mobile would respond just eight minutes later when a trio of new Ram players would hook up to tie the game at 1-1. 

Trailing 1-0, Dulman, Germany native Mathias Kruskemper, flicked a ball to the back left post where Edgar Morales receieved the ball and fired a shot that was partially saved by the UAB goalkeeper who was then unable to cover the ball.  With the ball right in front of him, Bjorn Asbjornsson took full advantage and redircted the shot into the back of the net tieing the game at 1-1.

In the 71st minute, UAB would take the lead for good.  Sandy Gbandi scored the game-winner when he converted a penalty kick at the 71:29 mark and the Blazers would add one more in the 79th minute, when All-American Leandro de Oliveira scored his first goal of the night.

Mobile begins the regular season on Saturday, Sept. 4 when the team travels to Lookout Mountain, Ga., for a match-up with Covenant College.  The Rams defeated Covenant 3-2 last year in overtime.

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