Brave SC’s match against Brooke House FC Saturday night was about more than just the three points at stake. The Buffalo had a point to make.

Safe to say, they made it in a 3-1 win over the visitors from Orlando, claiming the victory they felt they deserved in the teams’ first matchup 10 days prior.

“I think today was a special day because we played this game at home,” midfielder Matheus Ferreira said. “We had so many chances to win the game over there at their place, but, unfortunately, the ball didn’t go in. Here, at home, with the power of the fans, the team concentrated the whole week to play this game and we’re happy with the win.”

It looked early on as though the two sides were headed for a similar outcome with Brave SC (2-0-2) dominating possession and shots but failing to find a goal. However, two tallies late in the first period quickly altered the tone of the game and Brave never looked in danger of losing its advantage in the second.

“I’m glad we finished the first half up on the scoreboard,” head coach Anderson DaSilva said.

The Buffalo were familiarly frustrated throughout the opening 40 minutes, as try after try was either stopped by Brooke House (0-4-3) goalkeeper Taner Akin, or narrowly missed the mark. However, Niclas Wittur finally broke the scoreless tie in the 42nd minute.

The Brave SC veteran, playing in his first match of the season, connected on a corner kick from Fabio Rodrigues and managed to tuck it inside the right post.

“I thought I wouldn’t get on it,” said Wittur, who started the match at center back. “It was an awkward height and I had two players in front of me and I just thought, ‘If no one gets on it, I’ll just try to keep my run going.’ Luckily, it hit my knee and went in, lucky for us.”

While Akin nearly pulled the ball back in time, the assistant referee spotted the ball across the line from his position on the sideline and signaled for a goal.

“He almost didn’t believe he scored that goal,” DaSilva said, “but it showed up in the second post and I’m glad the liner saw it because the center didn’t and it was very close.”

A few minutes later, Ferreira managed to get a pass off to Rodrigues before a late tackle took him off his feet and Rodrigues blasted a shot from 30 yards out that just slipped under the crossbar.

Returning to the pitch with a 2-0 lead, the Buffalo didn’t let up. Ferreira scored his second of the season in the 53rd minute after Akin foiled a chance for Nico Diaz, but was slow returning to his line after clearing the ball. Rodrigues kept the ball in the attacking third with a touch down to Ferreira, who recognized the opening and chipped a shot over the defense for Brave’s third goal.

DaSilva used all of his available substitutions over the final 20 minutes, including Troy Martinez, who entered in the 70th minute for his first action with the first team. Upon taking the pitch, Martinez, who regularly plays for Brave SC II, became the youngest player ever to debut for the Buffalo’s first team at just 16 years and eight months of age.

“I was giving him the ball every time I could so he could feel the pressure because, eventually, in a big game, he might be someone who can solve something for us,” Ferreira said. “Everyone’s important, no matter if you’re starting or coming off the bench.”

The Lions’ lone goal came on a penalty kick in the 90th minute, at which point the match was already decided.

With the win, the Buffalo improved to 2-0-2 and now sit three points behind Nona FC (3-0-2) in USL League Two’s Southeast Division ahead of a matchup with the Longhorns on Saturday. However, the Buffalo are diligently focused on their next opponent, Brevard SC (0-3-1), whom they’ll face Wednesday on the road.

“Everything that happened is behind us and we need to keep winning and find a way if we want to make a long run in USL League Two,” Ferreira said, “so we’re focusing on Brevard and leaving Nona for next week.”

Brave SC and Brevard SC will kick off at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Palm Bay High School in Melbourne.

For more information on Brave SC, including the roster and complete schedule, visit BraveSC.com.