SC Miners visited FC United in what was both teams’ first game of the season. It was as advertised, a tough and physical confrontation, where both left with a point. Both sides surely left the game feeling their side could have come away with all three points as both teams had an opportunity to take a late lead. 1-1 was the final score in this evenly contested match and there will be no time to dwell on what could have been but instead, focus on who is next.
The game began a bit slower, both teams having to shrug off a bit of rust. After 10 minutes or so the teams began to get a little more comfortable and more confident. It was very back and forth with both teams testing the oppositions goalkeeper. SC Miners began to dominate possession and began to step foot into FC United’s 18-yard box from the wings. Right when it felt SC Miners were close to opening the scoring, a great cross from FC United came in, where Manuel Salto of FC United, towered over the SC Miners defender and slotted it passed the goalkeeper. 1-0 for FC United with 25 minutes left in the first half. You could feel the momentum shift after the goal and FC United began to be the more dangerous side. Muxe Marhanele of FC United began to be an absolute headache for the Miners back line, making intelligent runs in behind and consistently going at the defenders. Lucas Ossowski, the SC Miners Goalkeeper, was brilliant getting his hands on a few crosses and really commanding his box. This made it difficult for FC United to get another one before half as it ended 1-nil.
The second half saw FC United come out aggressive and with every intention to get another one in, dominating possession and having a couple shots on target within the first 10 minutes. FC United’s Armando Limon began to dictate the midfield as everything went through him. Similar to what happened to SC Miners in the first half, FC United seemed the better side before Evan Ibarra of SC Miners showed great skill to dribble past 3 defenders and had great instinct to slot it past the FC United Keeper to get things level. With five minutes left and again when SC Miners were the most dangerous, FC United had an opportunity to take the lead, but an absolute brilliant save by Lucas ensured things stayed level.
It was a back-and-forth game where momentum would shift after a goal, yet each time a team looked the one to score, the opposition would be who would get the better chance. At the end, it was about who would be able to finish. Both teams were able to once, and they each came away with a point at Loyola Academy.
The coaches were asked after the match, what they felt could have made the difference in this even matchup. Coach Sasha stated, “We should have been more aggressive going forward, taking more shots, more crosses. A lot of plays on the flanks were direct 1v1 missing the crossing. We scored a goal from a quality cross and could have scored another one closer to the end of the game when goalie made superb save.” Both coaches knew how important that save was at the end. “We had some excellent chances in both halves that we were unable to convert. That said, our keeper came up with a huge save at the end of the game to preserve the tie,” said Luke. The SC Miners coach reflected on the game stating, “It’s always a good result to earn a tie against a tough opponent on the road, and it took a strong effort from our entire team and a goal in the second half to earn that in this match”. Sasha mirrored the sentiments, “We played an even match against quality opponent. With little more courageous plays, we could have reached higher level in getting the result we were hoping for. We move on the to the next one,” he said.
Both teams leave feeling they could have done a little more but will not be disappointed in a draw against quality sides. The 17U Premiership division has just began and it will be a division to keep an eye on.