Bonte over Vesuvio 2-0 in a tough battle.
What was anticipated to be another close showdown, this game did not fail to entertain the crowds that braved the winter drizzle. Vesuvio were without the skills of Dave and Greg, but came ready with their speedy 3 of Brian, Andy and Marco. But this wintry day was a day for waffles. In the first play of the game, Ricky, a former calamari, and now Bonte cocaptain, was gifted with a one on one opportunity with Alex, but was unable to convert. Nonetheless, bonte opened up the scoring with Decer rushing the far post off a corner and chesting it in amidst the chaos. The game was mostly fought in the midfield for the rest of this half with both teams toughening it out, while their defenses holding strong.
In the second half, the calamaris came out firing. 7 minutes in, Luiz headed a Vesuvio corner onto the post, and minutes later shots from close range by Andy and Marco were miraculously saved by Fabulous Fabio. Unable to score, the Vesuvians were dealt another blow when Leah initiated a counter attack with a pass to Dominic, who lobbed it to Decer at the top of the calamari penalty area. Decer put it on his left foot, turned and placed a pin point shot that found its way to the back of the net, his second goal of the day. 2-0 Bonte… and the Calamaris really needed to turn it up. Strong defending by the waffles kept the Vesuvians at bay including a brave stand by Chris Haines who inadvertently contracted throat bumpatitis from Andy who was eager to score. Haines is fine.
“This was not our best showing, but we stood strong against a tough Vesuvio team. Decer and Fabio performed incredibly as did the entire waffle defense. For the final, we need better passing to control the game more and to orchestrate a buildup, and better finishing from all our strikers. We earned this victory through sheer diligence today.” - Bula.
El Fuego beat Patriots 4-1
Report By Richard…
Have you ever seen the crazy Japanese game show ‘Endurance’? It seems like this tournament has become some kind of soccer version of that show. Both teams literally limped onto the frozen tundra of Palumbo with ten players each. Each team really only had nine and a half players, however, as both Slim and Waleed were nursing injuries. Again, I was really impressed by the effort and commitment from both sides on a miserable afternoon.
The game was off to a brisk start, but first of all I must say a very big THANK YOU to all three guys who volunteered to ref and run the lines, especially Diego who might not be getting much for a while as he gave less than nothing to Jennifer (I think for fear of being accused of nepotism). The Pats seemed intent on bullying our silky left winger, but they apparently don’t know that you can’t intimidate a warrior princess. Our own version of Xena did have to leave the field late in the second half, however, as she was completely taken out by a rather questionable challenge – hopefully she’ll be back for the final.
El Fuego opened the scoring with a truly bizarre goal. Alex floated a curling free kick in to the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ (™Andy Gray) and somehow time slowed down as if everyone was in the Six Million Dollar Man (the old school Lee Majors version, not this new crap). Big Gob John Woodring was the only one who didn’t hesitate, and he headed in the ball after it had bounced on the ground, low and hard past the bemused stand-in keeper. Not long after that, however, the purple people eaters were even, after guess who scored. Yup, Mr. Hall, the English gentleman took advantage of some very gentlemanly, ‘after you, no after you’ defending left him one on one with the keeper. With nary a defender within five yards of him, after an attempt at an off-side trap failed worse than Rosie O’Donnel’s diet, I knew exactly where he was going to shoot, but I had no chance as it ripped across my body and in to the side of the goal. Mr. Holt almost gave the Pats the lead not too much later as he snuck in to the box and hit a great cross first time just over the bar – I like to think that my positioning and intimidating stature forced him to shoot high, and it’s my blog entry so let me, okay?!
It was not going to be the Pats day, and the team of destiny, written off before even half way through the season, took the lead that would not be relinquished off another header. This time it was Karim (I think) who took advantage again of hesitation in the Pats defense to pounce on a floated cross from James, leaving the keeper with no chance. With Slim injured (much to John the Greek’s relief), and a couple of Pats players having to stay in defence instead of midfield, there was a lack of cutting edge to their attack and with Zack relinquishing a lot of his usual attacking play to cancel out Mr.Holt the Pats struggled to break down a well marshaled and diligent Fuegan defence.
I had a feeling that the team who scored the next goal would likely win the game. At 2-1 to us, a third would surely out it beyond reach, but if the Pats equalized, all the momentum would be with them. I was, therefore, mightily relieved to be punching the air and not picking a ball out of the back of the net when the next goal was actually scored. I can’t remember who scored it (I think it was Zack) but it was a peach of a strike, left footed streaking in from the edge of the box to shrug off a heavy challenge and belt it, waist high, curling in to the back of the net. It was just reward for the controlled possession we enjoyed, and we were very happy to go in to the half 3-1 up.
The second half provided a couple of moments of pressure from the Pats but there always seemed to be somebody mopping up for the Burritos. The Pats were mostly reduced to long range shots, as Fuego soaked up all the pressure that was thrown at us, but they kept trying, exhibiting some really good running off the ball. The last word, however, fell to one of our walking wounded. My man-of-the-match, Zack, played through a perfectly weighted ball for Waleed to ‘run’ on to, and he coolly slotted it home, first time past the despairing lunge of the keeper. All that was left to do was soak up pressure and let the clock run out. Despite a couple of scares, the Burrito goal held firm, and we were all relieved to hear the final whistle so we could put our sweatshirts back on.
Yet again, a solid team effort, with everybody contributing to yet another victory. By the time the final rolls around in two weeks we might even have a couple of people back from the IR, so watch out Bonté – we’re coming for you!
