SEATTLE, Wash. — The final home game of the 2025 USL League Two season for West Seattle Junction FC could not have ended in a more magical way last night. Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex erupted in jubilation at the final whistle, as the Blues clawed their way back from a three-goal deficit to win 4-3 against league newcomers Bigfoot FC, extending their winning streak to three thanks to second half braces from Joschi Schelb and Mani Diop.
Both teams looked eager to go forward right from the start, but it was the visitors who seemed more dangerous on the attack in the opening minutes. Bigfoot nearly broke the deadlock in the fifth minute had it not been for a crucial block from Jack Maguire, who denied Kai Merrill’s shot on goal. Despite the early pressure, West Seattle seemed to settle into the contest and figure out their shape, with their defensive press paying off and resulting in a pair of scoring opportunities for Jacen Stein and Nathan Mckenzie in the 13th minute.
In a moment that seemed to come against the run of play, Bigfoot FC stunned the Thistle Street Faithful with a well taken goal by Ignacio Brandan to break the deadlock in the 17th minute. The visitors kept the hosts on the backfoot for much of the first half as they nearly doubled their lead in the 24th minute, but a crucial goalline clearance from Rex Karjian was enough to keep the deficit to just one.
West Seattle continued to struggle on both sides of the ball, with things seemingly not clicking for their front line in the first half. Despite having the opportunity to regroup during the halftime interval, things would go from bad to worse for the Blues, as Bigfoot’s Owen Bliskis doubled their lead in the 51st minute after a deflected shot spilled kindly to the forward.
Bliskis’ offensive prowess paid off again in the 64th minute, as the forward broke through Junction’s backline for his second of the evening to extend the visitor’s lead to three. Starring at what looked to be their seventh defeat of the season in the face, it was going to take a miracle if West Seattle had any hopes on picking up points in their final home game of the season.
Suddenly, the tide of the game began to shift, with second half additions in the form of Schelb, Diop, and Will Maschmedt looking to be an answer to West Seattle’s offensive struggles. Following a good passage of play, Diop danced his way through the opposition’s box and fired his shot off the post, which was then skillfully turned in by Schelb to get the hosts on the scoresheet in the 68th minute.
The hosts continued to press on and find their way back into the match, with Maschmedt drawing a foul and setting up a free kick opportunity for Schelb in the 81st minute. The midfielder whipped in a cross that was initially cleared back to himself, who looped the ball back into the box and found the head of Jake Larson. The defender flicked the ball right into the path of Diop, who guided his headed effort into the back of the net for Junction’s second of the night.
In what seemed to be an identical passage of play, Karjian was brought down by a Bigfoot defender just four minutes later, setting up another dangerous free kick opportunity for Schelb. Like clockwork, the defender found the head of Diop, who scored his second of the night to square things up at 3-3 with just under five minutes to play in regulation.
Some teams would be satisfied with a point after having trailed by three goals, but not West Seattle Junction FC. With time winding down, the Blues continued to press on for what would be a miraculous game-winning goal, and they found exactly that in the 88th minute. A cross from Mckenzie found its way to Maschmedt, who beat a pair of defenders before setting up Schelb, whose volleyed effort flew into the side netting, completing the comeback with four unanswered goals to secure the greatest win in Junction FC’s history.
“If I had a chance, I knew I would score,” shared Diop following last night’s dramatic win. “Sometimes we give teams too much respect, but we know we have what it takes to beat these teams and win games.” West Seattle’s midfield maestro Schelb had a similar sentiment, adding, “It was a great team performance that everyone played a part in.” When asked about the team’s mentality throughout these past three wins, Maschmedt added, “Everyone demonstrated the hunger and the mentality that we needed to win tonight.”
West Seattle will look to wrap up the 2025 season with a fourth and final win this Friday at 7:00 pm, as they hit the road to take on FC Olympia. Having lost to the Artesians in the reverse fixture earlier this season, the Blues will be keen to enact their revenge with a win of their own on the final day of the regular season. Tickets are available for purchase online, with fans also able to tune into the livestream on SportsEngine Play.
