Cucuy FC - LAFB Warhawks 2:1 (0:1)
This game was a pretty even match-up, and everybody had to work really hard for the win. First half we had more chances than the Warhawks but had trouble to find the back of the net. We also had trouble with Warhawks two fast strikers, but Schluni and CNate kept the upper hand against them. Warhawks number 10 however had too much room, dropping behind the attack and creating lots of chances for them. Warhawks Number 10 also scored the goal for the 0:1 at half time, a shot from the top of the box that left no chance for Kyle.
Second half we marked number 10 much closer, and handing him off between Karol, Scotty, and Schluni worked really well. The Warhawks did not shoot on our goal for at least the first 20 minutes, all the action was in their half. Finally, Javier was able to slide a 50/50 ball past the keeper, getting fouled in the process and having to limp off the field. A few minutes later, Cole scored our second, a nicely measured shot from maybe 20 yards out in the bottom corner. In the end we almost gave up the win after Kyle, apparently somewhat bored in second half, missed a ball at the top of the box, which the Warhawks striker passed to the middle. The striker there had little opportunity to miss that shot from about 10 yards with no one in goal except Brent who had hurried back. To all surprise, the shot when wide. I guess Brent IS an imposing figure ;) Overall, the second half was some of the best soccer I've seen Cucuy play in a while. If we cut back on the long balls and keep up the running and short passes we can do some nice stuff.
Goals: Javier, Cole
MVP: Scotty
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Monday, September 26, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Cucuy Loses to Atletico Peru
Cucuy FC vs. Atletico Peru 2:4 (1:1)
Playing the upper division teams definitely makes a difference in level of competition. Unfortunately, we were missing a few of the core guys: Kyle R, Todd, Cary, Stan, Ben, Eddy..., but luckily we picked up two guest players (Daniel and Brad).
Peru proved why they are the State reigning champs right off the bat. They scored with a first build up and 'somewhat' lucky header from the top of the 18 yard box. 1:0 Peru. Cucuy took it as a wake up call and finally settled in the match with great ball control and possession. With that came handful of good chances to bring the game to level. Eventually, Hintzky, Javier and Cole built up the play and Patrick slotted it in for 1:1. Cucuy maintained the control for the remaining of the first half, but Peru resisted and held off.
Peru took the second half far more seriously and showed us what experience and staying composed under pressure can do. Cucuy was allowed less opportunities, which could be attributed to tired legs or just lack of movement and provided support. Nevertheless, Peru held on to the ball well and kept our defensive line at bay with fast breaks or overloaded midfield. After a breakdown in the middle Peru's one-touch passes allowed them to march into our goal, 2:1. 3:1 came after a poor corner kick clearance and a volley that swept the cobwebs of the upper-ninety. Daniel had no chance.
Our moment of glory came in the final minutes. Peru's miscommunication in their defensive line caused them to forget about Javier. Hintzky send a delightful through ball and Javier was off to races to send a shot to a lower right corner for 3:2. Almost immediately Peru pressed forward and with a first shot deflected the second arrived just under our crossbar from 18 yards out. A solid finish and 4:2 State Champs!
-kh
Goals: Patrick, Javier
MVP: Hintzky
Playing the upper division teams definitely makes a difference in level of competition. Unfortunately, we were missing a few of the core guys: Kyle R, Todd, Cary, Stan, Ben, Eddy..., but luckily we picked up two guest players (Daniel and Brad).
Peru proved why they are the State reigning champs right off the bat. They scored with a first build up and 'somewhat' lucky header from the top of the 18 yard box. 1:0 Peru. Cucuy took it as a wake up call and finally settled in the match with great ball control and possession. With that came handful of good chances to bring the game to level. Eventually, Hintzky, Javier and Cole built up the play and Patrick slotted it in for 1:1. Cucuy maintained the control for the remaining of the first half, but Peru resisted and held off.
Peru took the second half far more seriously and showed us what experience and staying composed under pressure can do. Cucuy was allowed less opportunities, which could be attributed to tired legs or just lack of movement and provided support. Nevertheless, Peru held on to the ball well and kept our defensive line at bay with fast breaks or overloaded midfield. After a breakdown in the middle Peru's one-touch passes allowed them to march into our goal, 2:1. 3:1 came after a poor corner kick clearance and a volley that swept the cobwebs of the upper-ninety. Daniel had no chance.
Our moment of glory came in the final minutes. Peru's miscommunication in their defensive line caused them to forget about Javier. Hintzky send a delightful through ball and Javier was off to races to send a shot to a lower right corner for 3:2. Almost immediately Peru pressed forward and with a first shot deflected the second arrived just under our crossbar from 18 yards out. A solid finish and 4:2 State Champs!
-kh
Goals: Patrick, Javier
MVP: Hintzky
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Wild Tie Against Aztecas
Cucuy FC vs. Azteca FC 4:4 (1:2)
This was one of the wild ones... If someone would have offered me a draw against this team before the match, I might have considered it. But not after the played match. With many of our guys returning (from 'other' duties), it was great to have plenty of subs to our disposal. Anyway, Azteca FC started a man short for the first 5 minutes and it was evident in the ball possession. Cucuy FC dictated the pace right from the kick-off and created series of better-than-good goal scoring opportunities. After (sinfully) throwing away 3 to 4 chances to go ahead, Azteca FC manged to venture into out territory with their lonely striker (#10) who immediately showed off his quality, 1:0 Azteca. Well, mistakes happen and we tried to shake them off by continuing putting the opponents under pressure. Yet again, 2 to 3 scoring opportunities came out of our multiple waves of attacks and somehow we managed to squander every one of them.
So the rule 'if you don't score, you'll get scored on' was proven (once again) and #10 picked up a ball that we failed to clear and lobbed Kyle for 2:0 for Azteca. Good thing we didn't lose our spirit and kept up with the pressure. Then right before the half-time whistle, Javier got fouled at the edge of the penalty box. He took the free kick himself and sent it into a right upper ninety, 1:2. It was exactly what we needed going into a break.
Cucuy started the second half with even more vigor and hunger for the ball which led into abundance of chances and corners. One of the corners was cleared and Andrew poaching on top of the penalty box smashed a volley into an upper ninety, 2:2. A fantastic finish!
Paul Scholes would have been proud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0BI-1sGbAI
Our joy did not last for too long as #10 converted yet another (seldom) attack for 3:2 in Azteca's favor. This guy just could not miss. We refused to give up and engineered an attack after attack, but just could not convert even when there was no one else to beat (right, Karol?). Luckily, Stan proved why Ryan Giggs is so important to his team and that experience goes a long way by sending a pin-point cross to a far post where Hintzky connected with the ball through a diving header. Dave must have flew at least 6 feet before contacting the ball. Absolutely stunning and 3:3! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyqgMM5S_6U
I am not sure hot to quite describe what followed next. I was twelve the last time I threw away a scoring opportunity like that. Javier, very unselfishly, served the ball to me on the silver platter. I looked at the keeper to pick the corner to send the ball into, and then managed to 'pussy foot' the strike and so waste a chance to go ahead in the match. Failing to go ahead we found our selves behind once again... #10 read the throw-in perfectly and assisted his teammates for 4:3 Azteca.
With the last ten minutes of the game came an avalanche of scoring chances from our persistent pressure. The ball somehow was saved, cleared of the line or we just miss hit it. With the time running out, Ben controlled a deflected clearance and lobbed the keeper for 4:4. Cucuy kept up the pressure as we all felt like we deserved all three points.
In the final minutes we created even more chances, peppered the keeper, and wasted a free kick... It just was not meant to happen for us to commemorate the 9/11 with the victory. If anything, we trailed three times and managed to come back without ever giving up. For that I have to thank and congratulate the whole team!
Goals: Javier, Andrew, Hintzky, Ben
MVP: Schluni
MFUP (most fucked up play): Karol
This was one of the wild ones... If someone would have offered me a draw against this team before the match, I might have considered it. But not after the played match. With many of our guys returning (from 'other' duties), it was great to have plenty of subs to our disposal. Anyway, Azteca FC started a man short for the first 5 minutes and it was evident in the ball possession. Cucuy FC dictated the pace right from the kick-off and created series of better-than-good goal scoring opportunities. After (sinfully) throwing away 3 to 4 chances to go ahead, Azteca FC manged to venture into out territory with their lonely striker (#10) who immediately showed off his quality, 1:0 Azteca. Well, mistakes happen and we tried to shake them off by continuing putting the opponents under pressure. Yet again, 2 to 3 scoring opportunities came out of our multiple waves of attacks and somehow we managed to squander every one of them.
So the rule 'if you don't score, you'll get scored on' was proven (once again) and #10 picked up a ball that we failed to clear and lobbed Kyle for 2:0 for Azteca. Good thing we didn't lose our spirit and kept up with the pressure. Then right before the half-time whistle, Javier got fouled at the edge of the penalty box. He took the free kick himself and sent it into a right upper ninety, 1:2. It was exactly what we needed going into a break.
Cucuy started the second half with even more vigor and hunger for the ball which led into abundance of chances and corners. One of the corners was cleared and Andrew poaching on top of the penalty box smashed a volley into an upper ninety, 2:2. A fantastic finish!
Paul Scholes would have been proud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Our joy did not last for too long as #10 converted yet another (seldom) attack for 3:2 in Azteca's favor. This guy just could not miss. We refused to give up and engineered an attack after attack, but just could not convert even when there was no one else to beat (right, Karol?). Luckily, Stan proved why Ryan Giggs is so important to his team and that experience goes a long way by sending a pin-point cross to a far post where Hintzky connected with the ball through a diving header. Dave must have flew at least 6 feet before contacting the ball. Absolutely stunning and 3:3! http://www.youtube.com/watch?
I am not sure hot to quite describe what followed next. I was twelve the last time I threw away a scoring opportunity like that. Javier, very unselfishly, served the ball to me on the silver platter. I looked at the keeper to pick the corner to send the ball into, and then managed to 'pussy foot' the strike and so waste a chance to go ahead in the match. Failing to go ahead we found our selves behind once again... #10 read the throw-in perfectly and assisted his teammates for 4:3 Azteca.
With the last ten minutes of the game came an avalanche of scoring chances from our persistent pressure. The ball somehow was saved, cleared of the line or we just miss hit it. With the time running out, Ben controlled a deflected clearance and lobbed the keeper for 4:4. Cucuy kept up the pressure as we all felt like we deserved all three points.
In the final minutes we created even more chances, peppered the keeper, and wasted a free kick... It just was not meant to happen for us to commemorate the 9/11 with the victory. If anything, we trailed three times and managed to come back without ever giving up. For that I have to thank and congratulate the whole team!
Goals: Javier, Andrew, Hintzky, Ben
MVP: Schluni
MFUP (most fucked up play): Karol