Dothan United’s historic run ends in USL2 semifinal shootout loss to Vermont Green

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WDHN) — Dothan United’s historic USL League Two season came to a heartbreaking end Sunday night. The Dragons fell to Vermont Green FC in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw through regulation and extra time in the national semifinals.

The Dragons advanced to the semifinals after a 2-1 victory over Fort Lauderdale United in the Southern Conference Championship, earning the club’s first-ever trophy.

In Sunday’s semifinal, Dothan looked a bit out of sync early, making several uncharacteristic mistakes in the first half. But the back line held firm, taking a scoreless tie into the break.

The second half saw both teams trade momentum and chances but neither converted. Dragon goalkeeper Yago Darub came up huge in the 87th minute with back-to-back point-blank saves to keep the match level.

Regulation expired with the score still knotted at 0-0, sending Dothan United into extra time for the first time in club history. Darub once again made a spectacular save in the 124th minute, denying Vermont a winner and sending the match to a shootout.

The shootout unfolded in tense fashion:

• Vermont’s Zachary Zengue missed high
• Dothan’s Laurie Goddard had his shot saved
• Vermont’s Alex Hall scored
• Dothan’s Will Noecker answered, blasting one down the middle
• Vermont’s Julien Le Bourdoulous slotted a rocket into the top right corner
• Dothan’s Oscar Vallejo calmly tapped one in after sending the keeper the wrong way
• Vermont’s Maximilian Kissel finished down the middle
• Dothan’s Joshua Salas had his shot saved

With the score 3-2 in penalties, Vermont’s Owen O’Malley stepped up. Darub dove left, but O’Malley went straight up the middle to send Vermont to the USL2 title match.

The Dragons concluded their second season as Southern Conference champions and national semifinalists. They went 16-3 overall with a 13-3 USL2 record.