Mandarin boys use defense to muscle into state championship game on Saturday

The Mandarin boys soccer team will play for a state championship.

The Mustangs got a goal in the 21st minute from Emir Trto and used tough defense to smother Oviedo for a 1-0 win in the Class 6A state semifinals at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale on Thursday.

Mandarin (19-0-2) will face New Port Richey Mitchell (21-2-2) at 4 p.m. on Saturday as it attempts to become the first Duval County Public Schools boys team to bring home a title.

Among public school teams in the News4JAX coverage region, only Flagler Palm Coast (Class 3A in 2000), Nease (4A in 2007-08), Fleming Island (4A in 2012 and ‘17) and Ponte Vedra (3A in 2013 and ‘16) have won state titles. Mandarin played for the championship in 2012 for head coach Jason Cooley but lost to Cypress Bay.

Mandarin struck just before the water break on a bang-bang play. Mateus DeBem lofted a long ball that Daniel Moreno came down with and ripped a shot at the keeper. The save bounced right in front of Trto who blasted it into the net for his 22nd goal of the season and the eventual winner.