TheCalabrias.com

This was the last match of the season, and everyone was excited about the possibility of finishing it undefeated. Now, I don’t understand why the AUSA would do this, but we had to face the Gold team for the third time for our final match.

During all the previous matches, in addition to coach Matt and I, we also had either coaches Kip or Frank at the game. So instead of “over-coaching” the kids, I usually took the opportunity to take pictures and record the matches. Unfortunately, neither Kip or Frank could make to the final match, and given how tough the last game against the Gold team was, I decided to forgo the pictures and help coach Matt instead. I’m glad I did it, for it was a very hard match.

As I mentioned on my last post, the Gold team had some very big and aggressive players. And since we won our last two encounters, they were very eager to have another shot at us. Both teams played a good first quarter. But in my opinion, we still created more changes, and played better as a team. We scored first, after Owen beat the Gold Team’s keeper on a fast counter attack. Green 1 x 0 Gold. Unfortunately, our advantage was very short lived. The Gold team kicked the ball directly toward our goal during kick-off (mid-field) . Thinking a kick-off was an indirect kick, meaning someone else must touch the ball before it becomes “live”, our players moved away from the ball and let it go in to our net. The Gold team’s coach argued a kick-off is actually a direct-kick, which meat it was a valid goal. Since I wasn’t sure, and I couldn’t remember the rule, I had to let it go. But as you can imagine, I was NOT very happy about the call — even if it is indeed a direct kick, it is just a cheap shot. So we finished the first quarter leveled: Green 1 x 1 Gold.

The second quarter was the toughest. Since we must give all the players a chance to play — a very good rule I must add — we, coaches, must always have to be conscious of playing a well balanced team in each quarter. However, since some of the Gold Team players didn’t show up, their best (and largest) players remained on the field. I knew we were a bit out-matched, and certainly under-sized, but I must say our players never hesitated. We created a few changes and did a great job defending, but in the end, they got a good bound from one of their keeper’s punt, and, on a fast counter attack, they scored a second goal. Green 1 x 2 Gold. Lorenzo has been asking me all season to kick the ball from kick-off; my answer has always been “absolutely not”. However, since I was still mad about their first goal, and since I know Lorenzo could actually score from mid-field, I told him to go ahead and rip one off during the kick-off. It was a beautiful goal. The ball never hit the ground and flew to the top right corner of the goal, way past the keeper’s reach. K-A-B-O-O-M!!!! Gold team gets a bit of its own medicine, and we tie the match. Green 2 x 2 Gold. (And just like that the kick-off non-sense stops!)

We should have put the game way on the third quarter. We completely dominated the mid-field; we defended well, and we created a slew of chances at goal. We did everything right, but put the ball on the net. So we finished the third still tied: Green 2 x 2 Gold.

The fourth quarter was a bit more even, but once again, we still maintained an upper hand. To make sure they didn’t score, we played Lorenzo and Benjamin on the defense, and they completely shot the Gold team’s offense down. They only had one good chance at goal, and Fear stopped them cold. With our defense and mid-field secured, we kept attacking and counter-attacking and pressing on. And, with seconds to go, Hunter scored our winning goal with another boomer from an almost impossible tight angle.

FINAL SCORE: GREEN 3 x 2 GOLD.

Congratulations GREEN Team for an I-N-V-I-C-T-U-S Spring 2008 Season!!!!

PS: Sorry! No photos for the last match! The photographer had to wear the coach hat instead!