Zettl’s Last-Minute Strike Carries Owls Past USF

Wednesday, October 29

Tampa, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

10-3-1, 5-1-1

USF

8-2-5, 4-2-1

Fla. Atlantic

South Fla.

photo credit: Keira Arimenta

10/29/2025 10:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score American Conference Standings

TAMPA, Fla. – Florida Atlantic men's soccer (10-3-1, 5-1-1) will have a chance to win the American Conference regular season title on Sunday night. The Owls outlasted USF (8-2-5, 4-2-1) in a 4-3 thriller on Wednesday to remain tied for first place in the league standings.

Both teams were awarded a penalty kick in the first half, and both teams converted. First, it was USF in the 40th minute after an FAU handball on the edge of the box. Three minutes later, at the other end of the field, Mamadou Diarra was taken down in the penalty area and Oliver Moller-Jensen stepped forward to tie the game from the spot.

The match went into halftime tied 1-1 before chaos took over in the final half hour. In the 61st minute, Felipe Santos found space well outside the box and picked the far corner for his first goal as an Owl. Less than a minute later, USF was awarded another penalty kick, this time for a foul in the box. They converted again to tie it 2-2.

The Bulls then regained the lead in the 71st minute, but the advantage didn't last long. Four minutes after falling behind, Aboubacar Traore found himself on the other end of a Sebastian Zettl free kick and redirected home his fourth goal of the season to equalize 3-3.

The Owls kept the pressure on in the final quarter of an hour and were rewarded with a last-minute winner. With 15 seconds left, Diarra found Zettl at the top of the penalty area, and the senior captain had just enough time and space to get a shot off. The strike beat the USF keeper to the bottom corner, stunning the home crowd and giving the Owls a shocking 4-3 road victory.

Sebastian Zettl... AKA CAPTAIN CLUTCH!!! #WIP🏝️@FAUAthletics | @American_Conf | @NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/CKd685pWde
— Florida Atlantic Men's Soccer (@FAUMSoccer) October 30, 2025

The victory secures the Owls a first-round bye in the American Conference tournament and keeps them in contention for the regular season crown. To achieve the latter, they'll need more points on Sunday against Tulsa than Charlotte earns against Missouri State (i.e., if the Bears beat the 49ers, FAU needs just a tie).

Kickoff between Florida Atlantic and Tulsa is set for 7 p.m. on Sunday at the FAU Soccer Stadium. Admission is free.

For complete coverage of FAU men's soccer, follow us on X and Instagram (@FAUMSoccer).