The Machine Beats Cucuy

Cucuy FC - The Machine 2:3 (2:1)

It was a 3-2 loss overall.

First half was a back and forth game, but I think we generated more offense and won more balls in the midfield than they did.  Altogether they played a better possession game than us, but we were able to counter it pretty nicely in the first half.  Early in the game we had good offensive pushes and one led to a goal by Huczek.  We were assaulting the net and a ball was either crossed or shot, but rebounded or deflected out about penalty spot height wide of the net, where Huczek took it first time and nailed the upper ninety far side.  Absolutely sick shot.

Things evened out a bit after that. Eventually machine found Dino up top with some space around him.  He dribbled around 4 people and tucked it away in typical Dino fashion for 1:1.

A short bit later Hintzki shook a guy at the top corner of the 18, came across the top of the box, and took a shot which the keeper couldn’t control.  Cary was flying in with some great timing to tuck away the rebound for 2:1 lead.  That was the scoring for the first half.

They wound up tying it up on a PK which was called against Jesse.  One of their weaker forwards was put in on a breakaway.  Jesse made a hell on an effort to get back and caught up to him.  He crossed in front of the guy between the man and the ball.  He didn’t seem to get a piece of the ball, but also didn’t get a piece of the guy.  Kind of flew through making no apparent contact, but then the guy (now behind Jesse) tripped over the back of Jesse’s heels and screamed as he went down because of the obvious severe pain he was experiencing.  The ref didn’t hesitate to call it a PK.  Dino scored his second against us here.

The second half they controlled the midfield better than we did, we seemed to gas ourselves in the first half.  It’s not to say we didn’t find out chances up top.  We had an open net for the tie that managed to only find the right post, and a couple of rips on net that the keeper got his hands too.  The go ahead goal and eventual game winner came on an unfortunate bouncing ball over the top to none other than Dino.  The ball was a little bit wider than the 6 and was almost to the base line.  Kyle couldn’t make a decision whether to come out on it or hold his ground and made the decision to come out just as Dino was able to get a foot to it and flick it over the top from an odd angle to complete his hatrick.

Considering we were missing Karol, Scott K., Cary (out b/c he tweaked his knee in the first half), Eddie, Javier, and Nick, we played a pretty damn good game against them.
Dave H.

Goals: Huczek, Cary.
MVP: Schluni