REDMOND, WA -- In the hot summer sun, WPFC and NW Nationals '96 Red staged a match entertaining enough to be for the Championship of Nike Crossfire Challenge.

Too bad it was only the first round.

Brandon "Gambit" Cardin scored in the 58nd minute to give Premier a 3-2 victory. But Premier had to survive a final-minute free kick by NWN from just outside the penalty area. It sailed over the crossbar, and seconds later the whistle sounded.

Premier coach Abdella Hussen had to shake up his line-up, missing five players due to vacation and or injury. Abdella with only one available substitute for the tourney added Alex Jackson, a guest player from Utah to help fill the void. "We made it to the finals of this tournament last year so we have unfinished business!"

While Premier are known for coming from behind, they looked very sluggish and unmotivated in the first half giving up two goals.

Halftime Premier - 0, NW Nationals '96 Red - 2

Premier continued to dominate in the second half and had a few opportunities but no additional scoring materialized until the 34rd minute when Brandon was fouled in the box. After gathering himself he led the goalkeeper to the left while blasting his penalty kick in the lower right hand corner of the net.

Premier drew even at 2-2 when Tanner "Deja Vu" Stepp brilliantly volleyed in Dacin Titus's 50th-minute cross for his first goal of the tournament.

"Luckily, we battled and won, because the disappointment over the way we played at Regionals was still there," Jaylon Bond said. "We fell behind and we rallied, that shows the character if this team. Coach reminded us that our state championship was for the 2009-10 season and this is now the 2010-11 season... get over it!"

These kind of matches V NW Nationals '96 Red are becoming habit. In the Spring the two teams tied as Premier had to comeback from a 0-3 deficit at the half.