New Game Strategy Pays Off Against SA Dynamo

Cucuy FC - SA Dynamo 4:2 (2:1)

Games against Dynamo have been close in the past so we prepared diligently for this one. At the pre-game conference at Cory's, Karol gave a presentation on line-up and strategy. Tactics were discussed, evaluated, scrapped, and re-evaluated until late into the night, followed by a briefing by Cory on fitness an health. To sum it up in CNate's words: "A Volkswagen is a nice car, but you wouldn't want to pull a boat with it."

All the preparation paid off when we started the game with two men down, in a standard 4-4 formation with CNate in goal. A little later, Rahul showed up and closed up some of the space up front. He was in the middle of attention when he almost scored the 1:0, just to see the ball snatched away from him by the keeper. With everybody turning around to get ready for the goal kick, the keeper dropped the ball in front of Karol who put it in the net Luca Toni style for the 1:0. Then Cary showed up, just in time to win a header in front of Dynamo's goal that Rahul buried with a sliding drop kick in the back of the net. Dynamo had a lot less possession and got otherwise frustrated by our defense with Ryan, Brent, Jason, and Birke. Their only major chance was a free-kick about 20 yards out: A very nice shot towards the CNate's upper left that he barely got his hands on with an awesome save, unfortunately straight to a Dynamo player who headed it in for the 2:1. We had a couple more chances, including a missile from Jason out of half field and a very nice volley by Cary that the keeper was able to save, to everybody's (including his own) surprise.

Second half we had wind and sun on our side, so it was pretty much a one way game. Have seen few games where we scored so few goals with so many chances. In any case, Cary marked the 3:1 about half way second half. Dan commented, "The first low shot in the half is a score. Should that tell us something?" Towards the end it started to show that we played without subs. One run by a Dynamo striker was able to get past our defense and keeper Rey, who got a hand on the shot but could not prevent it from rolling towards the goal. Ryan, the scoring instinct taking over, buried it in the back of our goal. The goal gave new energy to Dynamo, who may have tied the game if we hadn't scored the 4:2. Kind of fitting for the way the game went, it was a beautiful combination in mid field that sent Karol off running by himself on the Dynamo keeper. Karol shot it passed the keeper into the far corner, only to see it bounce against the post, then against the leg of a Dynamo defender, and from there into goal. Overall the win was well deserved and could have been much higher.

This was Dan's last game this season. He is now off to study soccer tactics in Europe.

Goals: Karol 1 , Rahul 1 (Cary), Cary 1 (Karol)