Jacksonville Soccer Team Scores Last-Second Win After ...

Ahmad Al Qaq soared through the air four minutes into stoppage time and headed the ball into the net, capping off one of the wildest comebacks of the soccer season for Sporting Club Jacksonville.

The USL Championship men's team pulled off a stunning 3-2 victory over Lexington SC on September 5 at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium. What looked like a certain loss turned into pure celebration in front of the home crowd.

Lexington had clawed ahead with two goals in the final 20 minutes, including Xavier Zengue's strike in the 84th minute that seemed to seal the game. But Sporting Jax refused to quit.

Emil Jaaskelainen blasted home the equalizer in the 88th minute from close range. Then Adam Luckhurst sent a perfect cross from the right side in stoppage time, setting up Al Qaq's game-winning header.

Kieran Sadlier had opened the scoring for Sporting Jax in the 19th minute off an assist from Jean Mota. The victory moved the team closer to climbing out of last place in the Eastern Conference, now just two points behind Brooklyn FC.

Jacksonville Soccer Team Scores Last-Second Win After Rally

Why This Inspires

This game shows what refusing to give up looks like in action. Sporting Jax entered the match with a 3-15-5 record, sitting at the bottom of their conference with little to play for except pride.

When Lexington took the lead late in the game, it would have been easy to accept defeat. Instead, the players kept pushing, kept believing, and kept fighting until the final whistle.

The women's team showed similar resilience the same weekend, rallying from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against DC Power FC. Defender Maggie Illig scored her first league goal in the 63rd minute, just four minutes after DC Power had taken the lead.

Paige Kenton returned from injury to set up the equalizer, and goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg made four saves to preserve the point. The women's team remained unbeaten at 3-0-1 through their first four games of the season.

Both Sporting Jax squads reminded everyone that games aren't over until the clock hits zero.