Energy FC U23s earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over FC Cleburne on Saturday afternoon at Taft Stadium. Two goals from the penalty spot for Louis Bennett and a free kick goal from Carlos Flores made for an entertaining second half of the match.

Neither side could open the scoring in the first half with both having several decent chances. The best of the bunch came in the eight minute when Matt Puig played a through ball to Dante Brigida. Brigida was in alone on goal, but Cleburne goalkeeper Joshua Nieto came off his line well to keep the match scoreless.

Josh Garcia came close to putting OKC ahead in first half stoppage time. Kal Okot played a 40-yard diagonal ball that found Garcia near the corner of the box. Garcia cut inside and had a shot that was deflected out for a corner kick.

In the 51st minute, Dante Brigida was tripped in the box by Cleburne’s Ramiro Perez. Bennett grabbed the ball and drove the shot past substitute goalkeeper Edward Pacheco.

FCC didn’t waste much time getting back into the match, when Flores bent a free kick around the wall and beat Cooper Clark at his near post.

OKC found the winner in the 81st minute after Kevin Mendoza danced his away around Perez and was tripped just inside the box. Bennett stepped up again and drove a low shot to Pacheco’s left.

The next match for the U23s is June 10 at Hummer Sports Complex against Kaw Valley FC. The match will be available via stream.