Keegan delivered the game-winner in the 96th minute as the Sharks claimed back-to-back road wins for the very first time.
SPOKANE, Washington (August 15, 2026) — Corpus Christi FC delivered another dose of late-game magic Saturday night, overcoming two separate deficits before Jake Keegan struck in the 96th minute to complete a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Spokane Velocity in Washington.
The victory extended the Sharks’ unbeaten streak to six consecutive matches while securing back-to-back road wins for the first time in the club’s professional history.
Corpus Christi entered Spokane riding its longest unbeaten run of the season, but found itself in unfamiliar territory early after conceding a goal for the first time in five matches.
Spokane broke through in the 11th minute when Collin Fernandez delivered a cross from the right flank into the six-yard box. Joe Gallardo brought the ball down before finding Neco Brett, who finished with his left foot past James Talbot to give Velocity an early 1-0 advantage.
Despite Spokane controlling much of the early possession, Corpus Christi gradually began finding opportunities going forward. Sam Roscoe registered the Sharks’ first shot on target in the 31st minute, heading a Blake Bowen cross toward goal where Spokane goalkeeper Sean Lewis made the save.
The Velocity threatened to double its advantage late in the half, but Talbot kept Corpus Christi within striking distance. His biggest stop came in the 42nd minute when Gallardo broke through the middle and fired from outside the penalty area, forcing Talbot into a diving save to maintain the one-goal deficit entering halftime.
Searching for a playmaking spark, head coach Eamon Zayed introduced the team’s leader in assists, Nacho Abeal, after the break before finding their breakthrough from a set piece in the 57th minute.
After Bubu Medina drew a foul just outside the penalty area, Bowen delivered the ensuing free kick toward the left post, where Jack Keaney broke free and headed home the equalizer. The finish marked Keaney’s second goal in consecutive matches, while Bowen collected his fifth assist of the season.
“We know set pieces play a massive part in the game,” said Keaney. “We were all disappointed in our performance in the first half. We let ourselves down but came out and showed a lot of resilience to claw our way back.”
Corpus Christi seized momentum following the equalizer, but Spokane wouldn’t wait long to respond. In the 70th minute, Shavon John-Brown created space down the right wing before finding Nil Vinyals unmarked on the opposite side, where he finished to restore Velocity’s advantage at 2-1.
Once again, the Sharks would answer back.
In the 81st minute, Enock Kwakwa delivered a cross into the center of the penalty area, where Medina rose to head home his fifth goal of the season and pull Corpus Christi level for the second time.
The goal continued a trend of late-game heroics for the Sharks, with nine of their 25 league goals this season coming in the 80th minute or later.
Talbot kept the match level with a crucial save in the 85th minute before Corpus Christi began pushing Spokane onto its back foot in stoppage time.
With seven minutes added, Abeal drew a foul just outside the penalty area in the 95th minute to give the Sharks one final opportunity.
Bowen sent the ensuing free kick toward Keaney at the left post, where the defender redirected a header across the penalty area. Keegan collected the ball on the opposite side and fired home the go-ahead goal in the 96th minute, completing the comeback in dramatic fashion.
“We have been very dangerous from set pieces this season,” said Keegan afterwards. “Jack did a brilliant job to keep the ball alive on the set piece, and I was in the right place at the right time. When it fell to me, I knew I just had to hit the target.”
The strike marked Keegan’s fourth goal of the season and his 36th career USL League One goal, moving him into sole possession of third place on the league’s all-time scoring list.
The final whistle capped another defining result for a Corpus Christi side that continues to surge up the table. After sitting at the bottom of USL League One just 10 weeks ago, the Sharks have now gone unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 league matches, winning seven during that span.
Corpus Christi FC advances past their toughest road stretch of the year with a 2-0-1 record and climbs into ninth place, sitting just two points outside the playoff picture as its late-season push continues.
Coming Up:
Corpus Christi FC now return home to Cabaniss Athletic Complex on Wednesday, August 19th to host the visiting New York Cosmos.
Notable:
- Jake Keegan’s game-winner was his 36th career USL League One goal, moving him into sole possession of third place on the league’s all-time scoring list.
- Ten of Corpus Christi’s 26 goals this season have come after the 80th minute, including five in second-half stoppage time.
- Corpus Christi are undefeated in their last 6 games in the USL League One, their longest unbeaten streak in club history.
- CCFC now sits in ninth place in the USL1 table on 29 points through 21 matches, unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 league matches.
- Blake Bowen is now tied for fourth in USL League One in total goal contributions this season with 12 (7 goals, 5 assists).
Goals: Keaney (57’), Medina (81’), Keegan (90’ +6)
Assists: Bowen (1), Kwakwa (1), Keaney (1)
Yellow Cards: Abeal (1), Cerritos (1), Keegan (1)
| CORPUS CHRISTI FC | SPOKANE VELOCITY | |
| 10 | SHOTS | 13 |
| 4 | SHOTS ON TARGET | 6 |
| 4 | SAVES | 1 |
| 9 | FOULS | 10 |
| 2 | CORNERS WON | 3 |
| 3 | YELLOW CARDS | 3 |
Written by Corpus Christi FC, Communications Contributor, Nate Martinez
About Corpus Christi FC
CCFC was established in 2017 by Dr. Kingsley Okonkwo. The club previously played in USL League Two, the nation’s leading pre-professional league, and won their first Lone Star Division title in 2024. That same year, Corpus Christi was awarded a USL League One franchise and will kick off its first professional season in 2026. CCFC is building a new home at the Corpus Christi Multi-Sport Complex currently being constructed at 5102 Old Brownsville Road. Phase One of the $28.3 million complex was completed in summer 2025 and a 5,000-seat stadium, which will serve as home for all of the Sharks’ USL League One home games, is currently under construction.
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