Match Report – 16 May 2010 – Metro Playoffs Qtrs
Dinamo Red Star (Campos, Davis PK) |2 – 2 Regulation, 3 – 4 PKs| SC Croat San Pedro
Overcoming a season of injury and absence, we battled our way into the playoffs by securing the fourth and final spot in the PM division. Our reward…a quarter final match against the number one seed from the AM division. The Croats steam rolled the morning Metro going unbeaten in 14 while averaging a +3 goal margin. We, the reigning Super Metro champions, had yet to find that champion form, but took one big step in the right direction entering the playoffs with a solid end of the season victory.
BTW – The league commissioner was heard fuming over the 1st round match up. Having, arguably, two of the best teams in the Metro play each other early in the playoffs is never good for TV ratings. Sure there would be fireworks, but more of the premature kind that were sure to spoil an otherwise perfectly good prom night outing.
From the first whistle we caught the Croats off guard. They seemed to play as if they saw the 1 vs 4 matchup and expected another cake walk. They remained patient and methodical, while we outworked and outpaced them all over the field. Most of our decision making was solid and our best spells came when we worked the ball, stringing passes and attacking both the wings and the middle. We were building momentum when an unfortunate own goal off a set piece changed the course of the game, 0-1.
Our response to the shift was exceptional. Rather than cave, we refocused and worked harder. The intensity grew and the resulting play was a bit messy, but none the less exciting. The chance to equalize presented itself on more than one occasion. One instance saw Deppe skillfully flip a ball over their center back to Billy who was full speed toward goal. Their keeper played out of his mind, coming way off his line to snuff out the golden chance. And thus, half time soon arrived giving the frenzied onlookers a chance to collect themselves before what was sure to be a second half to remember.
The Croats were all over each other at the half as they realized they were throwing away the gift the soccer gods gave them. They came out firing on all cylinders in an attempt to put the game away early…hoping to kill the spirit of a side that they now knew could beat them. It was their game plan, their best chance and they did it. They were the first to reach a ball deflected off the crossbar, putting what most thought was the final nail in the coffin, 0-2.
We were now full on in a Kill Bill moment. There we were, buried alive. And yet we still believed and we still had heart. There was no way we were going down without a fight. Switching to a more aggressive formation, we started doing the little things to break out of the coffin and before long we dug up through the dirt and resurfaced, determined and undeniable. Their keeper may have kept Billy from scoring once, but the kid just won’t quit. Rising high above their back line, Billy slammed home a smoking header off a blistering corner served up by Tyler, 1-2. The confidence was already there, but now momentum was back on our side.
Pressing, we continued to keep them on their back heels. They began to make mistakes and it wasn’t long before we earned a penalty. I don’t remember who was brought down in the box, but I do remember Matt Davis stepping up to take the PK not once, but twice as we entered the box early on the first kick. It didn’t matter as he easily wrong footed the keeper both times, 2-2. Clearly the game was ripe for a fantastic finish, but time was short and the final whistle seemed to blow early.
We all know soccer is an emotional game. Had the game gone into overtime, I’m confident we would have won. The momentum, confidence and a last second red card given to the Croats spelled out certain victory, but as this was the quarter finals, there would be no overtime. Straight to penalties we went…all momentum lost. One would hope that the confidence would carry over, but unfortunately, nothing but a ball of emotion did as we missed two penalties, losing the match.
The result is bitter sweet and yet quite fitting as a shortened version of our season. We had high expectations, but at times under achieved, only doing enough to get by. Backs against the wall, we then stuck together and as a team never gave up, never gave in.
