Marshall Holds Off Coastal Carolina 2-1 in Conference Clash
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over visiting Coastal Carolina on September 19, 2025, in a Sun Belt Conference matchup that saw all three goals scored within a dramatic 10-minute span in the first half. The Thundering Herd managed to protect their early advantage through the entire second half despite intense pressure from the Chanticleers, who played much of the match with 10 men following a red card.
The breakthrough came at the 32:49 mark when David de la Vibora Bonilla found the back of the net for Marshall, finishing a well-crafted play with assistance from Keaviano Francis. The home side capitalized on their attacking momentum, breaking down Coastal Carolina's defensive structure with precise passing that culminated in de la Vibora Bonilla's clinical finish past goalkeeper Harrison Gough.
Marshall doubled their advantage just over eight minutes later at the 41:00 mark when Rai Pinto produced a moment of individual brilliance. Working without assistance, the midfielder showed composure under pressure to slot home Marshall's second goal, giving the Thundering Herd what appeared to be a commanding lead heading toward halftime.
However, Coastal Carolina responded immediately, pulling one back just a minute later at the 42:00 mark through Jaland Larmond. The forward, who played the full 90 minutes, demonstrated his finishing ability by converting an unassisted effort that cut the deficit to 2-1 and injected renewed hope into the visiting side's performance. This quick response set up a tense remainder of the match.
The first half was characterized by Marshall's early dominance and clinical finishing during a crucial 10-minute period. The home side created multiple opportunities, with Nikita Pakhomov forcing an early save from Harrison Gough at the 4:16 mark following a corner kick. Marshall earned two corner kicks in the opening period while maintaining defensive discipline that limited Coastal Carolina's attacking threats despite the visitors earning four corners.
The second half saw a dramatic shift in dynamics as both teams were reduced to 10 men following red card incidents. The disciplinary issues significantly impacted the flow of the game, with the match official showing a remarkable 15 yellow cards to Marshall and 2 to Coastal Carolina, in addition to the red cards for both sides. Despite the numerical equality, neither team could find the breakthrough in the second period as defensive organization took precedence.
Statistically, the match reflected the tight nature of the contest. Marshall managed 4 shots compared to Coastal Carolina's limited offensive output, though the shot count appears incomplete in the official records. The corner kick count favored Coastal Carolina 4-2, suggesting periods of sustained pressure that the visitors couldn't convert into clear scoring opportunities. The foul count and extensive card distribution indicated the physical and contentious nature of this conference battle.
Individual performances proved crucial in determining the outcome. David de la Vibora Bonilla emerged as the hero for Marshall with his well-taken opening goal, while Rai Pinto's solo effort effectively sealed the victory. For Coastal Carolina, Jaland Larmond's goal kept his team in contention throughout the match, though the Chanticleers couldn't find an equalizer despite their efforts. Goalkeeper Harrison Gough made several important saves for Coastal Carolina, including the early stop from Pakhomov, but couldn't prevent the two first-half goals.
From a tactical perspective, Marshall's ability to capitalize on their first-half opportunities proved decisive. The home side's compact defensive shape in the second half, combined with Coastal Carolina's numerical disadvantage for portions of the match, prevented any late drama. The visitors' inability to create clear chances despite earning more corner kicks highlighted Marshall's defensive resilience when protecting their lead.
This result carries significant implications for both teams' conference standings as they navigate the Sun Belt Conference schedule. Marshall's ability to secure all three points at home strengthens their position in the competitive conference race, while Coastal Carolina will rue missed opportunities and disciplinary issues that undermined their comeback attempt. The victory provides Marshall with momentum as they continue their campaign.
Looking ahead, both teams will need to address the disciplinary concerns that marred this encounter, with the high card count potentially affecting player availability for upcoming fixtures. Marshall will look to build on this home victory and maintain their scoring touch, having shown clinical finishing when opportunities arose. Coastal Carolina must regroup quickly and focus on converting possession and set-piece opportunities into goals while maintaining better discipline in crucial moments of matches.