Jack Keaney produced his third headed goal of the month in the 89th minute to level the match for Corpus Christi.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (August 22, 2026) — Corpus Christi FC erased a two-goal halftime deficit Saturday night, rallying behind second-half goals from Jake Keegan and Jack Keaney to earn a 2-2 draw against Westchester SC.
The Sharks entered their second home match in four days searching for a response following Wednesday’s loss to New York Cosmos and looked lively in the opening minutes, generating several early opportunities around the Westchester penalty area.
As the Sharks returned to their aggressive identity, a string of fouls shifted momentum in favor of the visitors. From a free kick in the 24th minute, Westchester defender Tim Timchenko found the breakthrough to give his side a 1-0 advantage.
Westchester then doubled its lead in the 37th minute when Piero Elias drew the Corpus Christi defense toward the left side before finding an unmarked Dean Guezen in front of goal for the finish.
Despite outshooting Westchester 8-4 through the opening 45 minutes, Corpus Christi entered halftime trailing 2-0 after placing just one attempt on target.
The Sharks emerged from the break with renewed energy following the introductions of Nacho Abeal and EJ Johnson. The duo provided an immediate spark to the attack, combining for nine of Corpus Christi’s 16 second-half shot attempts.
“We didn’t start off very good, but I think we had quality up top and we had quality all over the field,” said Abeal. “What we showed in the second half is what we can do. We just need to get it going every single time right at the start.”
The breakthrough finally arrived for the Sharks in the 57th minute.
Keegan dribbled toward the left corner of the box before curling a strike inside the far post to cut the deficit in half. The finish marked his fifth goal of the season and gave the Sharks life with more than 30 minutes remaining.
Corpus Christi continued to dictate play throughout the second half, mounting pressure through a series of set pieces and eventually finishing the night with 11 corner kicks.
That persistence was rewarded in the 89th minute.
Blake Bowen delivered a cross from the right flank toward the back post, where Keaney rose above the defense and headed home the equalizer. The goal marked Keaney’s third in the last four matches, while Bowen collected his sixth assist of the season.
“To be honest, we haven’t really thought about anything. It was just ‘Put the ball into a good area and just attack it,’” said Keaney of his recent connection with Bowen. “Thankfully, we came back in the second half and showed what we’re made of.”
Westchester threatened to steal all three points in stoppage time, but James Talbot produced a crucial save in the 92nd minute to keep the match level before the final whistle.
Corpus Christi outshot Westchester 24-9 on the night while overcoming a two-goal deficit to salvage a point.
“It’s who we are. We’ve shown it plenty of times,” said assistant coach Manny Iwabuchi of the comeback. “As far as the perseverance and the resilience, it’s what we talk about every day in training. We talk about our environment and our culture. It’s a part of who we are.”
With nine matches remaining in the regular season, Corpus Christi will look to build on its second-half response as the Sharks continue their push toward the USL League One playoffs.
Coming Up:
The Sharks get a two-week rest before their next home matchup on September 5th at Cabaniss Athletic Complex hosting Forward Madison FC.
Notable:
- Corpus Christi FC remains ninth in the USL League One standings with 30 points through 23 matches, holding a 7-7-9 record.
- Keaney has scored all three of his goals this season on headers in the month of August
- Blake Bowen’s assist brought his season total to six, tying Nacho Abeal for the team lead.
- Jake Keegan’s 57th minute strike was his fifth of the season.
Goals: Keegan (57’), Keaney (89’)
Assists: Bowen (1)
Yellow Cards: Kwakwa (1), Talbot (1), Medina (1), Zayed (2), Iwabuchi (1)
| CORPUS CHRISTI FC | WESTCHESTER SC | |
| 24 | SHOTS | 9 |
| 3 | SHOTS ON TARGET | 6 |
| 4 | SAVES | 1 |
| 22 | FOULS | 13 |
| 11 | CORNERS WON | 2 |
| 6* | YELLOW CARDS | 1 |
*Two yellow cards were given to Eamon Zayed, and one to Manny Iwabuchi following the conclusion of the match
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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