Pitt men’s soccer defeats Kansas City 3-2 in extra time, returning to the Elite Eight

No. 2 Pitt men’s soccer (14-5-0) triumphed on Sunday evening, knocking Kansas City (14-5-3) out in the Sweet Sixteen 3-2. This is the Panthers’ fourth Elite Eight appearance in five years.

The match remained high-intensity throughout. Each team left it all on the pitch in a game with below-freezing temperatures in front of a standing-room-only crowd. Without a dull moment, the Panthers — fueled by the home crowd — outshot the Roos 22-5. Pitt’s efforts culminated in sophomore forward Albert Thorsen’s thrilling extra-time winner.

“Big players make big plays in big games,” head coach Jay Vidovich said about Thorsen’s clutch goal.

Kansas City was on a hot streak coming into its matchup against Pitt. The Roos won five in a row and reached their first NCAA Round of 16 in program history. The Roos demonstrated their potential to upset Pitt by defeating No. 3 Denver to secure the Summit Championship.

With 54 goals, the Roos possess the third most potent attack in D1 men’s soccer. Junior forward Elie Kisoka leads the line for the Roos with 20 goals and assists in the 2024 season. The formidable French forward has the most game-winning goals nationally, netting the decider on six occasions.

On the opposite side of the field, the Panthers came into the game with the third-best defense remaining in the final 16, averaging a .778 goals against average. Vidovich’s defense has bolstered his team to a dominant 59-3-3 record since 2019 when scoring first.

First Half

Pitt was without center-half junior defender Jackson Gilman, who earned a one-game suspension after getting a red card against Cornell in the Round of 32. The Panthers especially missed Gilman’s presence early in the match, as Kansas City dominated the start, controlling possession while bothering the Pitt attack.

The Roos’ efforts culminated in the all-important opening goal just six minutes in. Senior midfielder Julien Le Bourdolous sent a crafty ball to Kisoka. Kisoka left the ball for junior forward Gabriel Fernandes, who sent a well-placed shot to the bottom left, which barely snuck past Pitt’s junior goalkeeper Cabral Carter. Fernandes subbed into the game, only one minute prior, making an instant impact.

In Pitt’s last four matches, when Pitt failed to score first, it failed to win. In fact, in all four of these games, Pitt failed to find the back of the net.

Opponents seemed to figure out that if they managed to score first, an ultra-conservative game plan would beat Pitt. Opponents keeping their players back with little intention of scoring themselves, neutralized the Panther attack. Pitt struggled to activate its playmaking defenders and its elite midfielder never had transitions to capitalize upon.

But the Panthers reversed the trend, tying the match in the 15th minute. After two blocked shots by senior defender Mateo Mailefaud, Pitt broke through. Senior midfielder Guilherme Feitosa set up Thorsen right outside the six-yard box. Senior Kansas City goalkeeper Brandon McGaugh batted down Thorsen’s cross attempt, but senior forward Casper Grening pounced, netting his first goal of this postseason.

“After the first goal, we had a really good reaction and got our goal right after,” Thorsen said.

“We always just stick with it, with it, work together and just keep pushing. How we responded for the first time in a long time was good.”

Grening’s last postseason goal occurred in a Sweet Sixteen match involving the Panthers. At the time, Grening played for Kentucky and the Wildcats lost to the Panthers 2-1. This time around, Grening switched sides and earned the Sweet Sixteen win as a member of the Panthers.

Pitt controlled possession for the remainder of the half, pressing Kansas City back and outshooting the Roos 6-2. Kansas City’s only shot on target remained their early breakthrough goal.

Second Half

The Panthers continued knocking at the door in the second half, as first-year forward Lasse Dahl created several dangerous chances. In the 60th minute, senior forward Luis Sahmkow slid just short of Dahl’s pass —agonizingly close to a wide-open net. Then in the 62nd, McGaugh made a diving save on Dahl’s shot in-close.

Pitt’s energy remained high, as Kansas City failed to gain any significant possession. The anxiety remained palpable, as many Pitt shots soared far over the net.

In the 70th minute, Pitt’s efforts paid off, breaking the deadlock with a highlight reel goal. Feitosa drove the net, skillfully spinning by a Roo and then sending a laser on the net. 

McGaugh’s impressive night continued, as he made a leaping save. The Panthers pounced on the rebound, as graduate student Arnau Vilamitjana fired his shot off the underside of the bar before nestling into the net.

But the Roos remained resilient, leveling the game just four minutes later, scoring off a corner for the second time this match. On its third shot of the game, Kansas City made a perfect play, leaving Carter rooted to the spot. Bourdolous’s corner found sophomore defender Guille Munoz at the near post, who masterfully looped the ball into the net.

“I don’t care if we win the whole damn thing,” Vidovich said. ”I’ll still want us to improve defending restarts and set pieces.”

In the 81st minute, the excitement continued. Feitosa found Thorsen, whose header ricocheted off the crossbar. Kansas City immediately threw bodies in front of the ball, blocking Casper’s shot off the rebound.

With just a second left on the clock, Pitt netted a potential game-winner with Sahmkow deflecting the ball into the net from close range. But Pitt’s jubilation was cut short as senior forward Luis Sahmkow was caught just offside.

Extra Time

After receiving a yellow card in the 93rd minute, Thorsen played hero in the 98th. Vilamitjana slotted the ball through for Thorsen as he blew by the Roos’ final line of defense, slotting the game-winner past a helpless Kansas City keeper to the cheers of the Pitt faithful.

“We played a 100-minute football match,” Thorsen said about his winner. “We’re obviously all tired, looking to end the game. The fact that I was able to get the last one to help the team rest is everything I can do.”

Next time out

Next week, Pitt men’s soccer will take to the field for its final home game of the season, offering fans one last chance to cheer them on at Ambrose Urbanic Field. The Panthers will face the winner of the Vermont against San Diego showdown as they navigate toward the program’s first national championship.