80th minute header is decisive [edited]

After our 2-1 victory on Sunday, I texted a few players who were absent but who had asked to know the results.  Nate texted me back saying that our game "sounded a lot like Liverpool's game" this week.  He's right.

Liverpool had slugged through most of its FA semi-final cup match versus Everton.  Everton conceded a foul in the corner and Craig Bellamy sent in a nice cross, which the big man Andy Carroll just kissed into the goal with his head - in the 80th minute.



Look familiar?  That's exactly how our game played out this week - and it was won in nearly identical fashion when Bucky rose above his defender to just deflect Adrian's cross into the goal.  It was a fair result for our team and also for Bucky, who had hit each post and the crossbar in the first half.  As Bucky himself put it at halftime, the only part of the goal left to strike was the back of the net.  And he did it.

Folks, that was one of those games you look back on during the season and appreciate.  We were not particularly well prepared going into it, but we had all the necessary tactical answers as the match progressed - we sustained pressure, we made a quick strike to equalize, and then we gained control with possession and holding the ball, biding our time until the second and winning goal was possible.  I think from a team perspective, it was an efficient game.

Keep in mind that we had not played in a highly competitive match yet this season and we were a little out of sorts attendance wise.  The defense took some time to jell - we yielded three dangerous breakaways in the opening minutes, at least one of which should have resulted in a goal, and then the goal itself.  While both keepers were outstanding, George earned the win with his brave saves off the line.  He has also earned his incredible goal differential thus far this season.

We were down in the match after a difficult sequence.  Funky Town diced our back line and managed to sneak one just past the line from my perspective.  Mike's sliding clearance was allowed by the referee, but ultimately we couldn't clear the area.  Funky Town finished on a deflection and we were trailing for the first time all season.

Still in the first half, we battled back with some good teamwork that began with Mike's back pass at midfield.  I received, held the ball, and found Mike at his feet about 20 yards deep.  Mike went out to Adrian on the wing, who made a strong move to goal and shot across the goal.  A defender was forced to deflect the ball and it fell to Heather, who slotted it in.  Heather, incidentally, had a big impact on this game too, scoring the tying goal and playing as an effective outlet late in the game.  She and Carlos were great about "coming to" the ball as we looked to get it upfield to safety since we had just about everyone parked behind the ball towards the end.

All in all, I thought it was a great outing.  Every single player made contributions.  It's no skin off our backs to recognize Adrian, though.  As Carlos said, he worked incredibly hard.  Just when you thought he was dribbling into a cul-de-sac, he would break through with nifty footwork and set us up for a big play.  He was an indispensable piece that made the whole machine work and he gave the other team fits.  He can do things that the rest of us can't - and he does them for the team.

Super winger

Funky Town was much improved from last season, when we beat them 3-0.  They deserved more goals.  We may see them again in the playoffs.  If that happens, let's not forget about #27 (scored their goal) or that little speedster woman who had great tenacity.  FT has some quality.

Notes: 2-1 win versus Funky Town at 4/15/12 at Ridge.  Goals: Heather (Adrian), Bucky (Adrian).  GK: George.

Save the date for Champions League final

I'm thinking of a having a team BBQ for the Champions League final.  It will take place Saturday afternoon, May 19th.  The Euro cup gets started in early June, with that final occurring on July 1st.  Following that, we'll have an Olympic final.  Big summer.

Bruiser

No joke - we enjoyed a 5-1 win versus unAthletic DC in our last outing, which was on April Fools day.

With that win, we have a legitimate winning streak of 3 games.  However, when we stepped off the pitch, we were probably more focused on the fact that we got out of there with our ankles in tact.

It was a bit of a bruiser.  See the photographic evidence to the right.

From the opening whistle, we were in control.  While we weren't all that consistent throughout the match - note the soft goal we gave up late in the 2nd - we had more than enough plays to win. 

The signs from above were unmistakeable when Adrian opened up the tab in the 12th minute with...wait for it...a direct score from a corner kick!  Somewhere in Baltimore, Chris N is fuming because, unlike his solo game winner in a divisional semi-final several years ago, which deflected off the post and into the goal, Adrian bent his ball directly into the side netting.  It was stunning, and I say that having seen it go over and around me in the box.  The keeper would have had to abandon the near post completely to have any chance. I can't believe our team has scored twice off corner kicks in the past few years!  I'm telling you, even though we've missed out on some big games, we have quality.

The other goals were all very well deserved because unAthletic didn't have a cohesive defense on this day.  Bucky had a really strong shot just eight minutes later.  Nate finished on one of his patented full-field runs from defense, arms swinging the whole way.  They simply couldn't account for him and his surprising pace.  Chris had a brace to finish the game.  The next time I miss an open goal, please note that I did, in fact, put the ball over the line in this one but it was called back on a foul.

We're approaching the halfway mark.  Let's keep this up!

Notes: 5-1 victory versus unAthletic DC on 4/1/2012.  Goals by Adrian (direct off corner), Bucky (Adrian), Nate (Jon), Chris N (Jon), and Chris N (unknown).