Orangemen Win 3 - Nil, In Second Half!

On another cold winter afternoon, despite what that Groundhog had to say about it last week, the Orangemen faced temperatures in the mid thirties to meet Braddock Road on their turf, in Oakton Virginia.  Taking the two halves on aggregate, the Orangemen came up a goal short losing to Braddock 3 - 4, however it’s worth noting for the record that despite being down  0 - 4 at halftime, the Orangemen rallied back in the second half to score 3 unanswered goals.  It’s reasonable to point out that despite their domination in the second half, the performance in the first half wasn’t without merit.  The Orangemen were passing and controlling most of the  play, the goals that Braddock scored were the result of momentary breakdowns in defense that were corrected during the second half.  Doug was back from a long winter break to lead the defense and it was his suggestion at the half to try our 2 flat in the back that Mooch recommended during the fall season.  The results speak for themselves.  The defense comprised of Doug and Maurico #2 in the two flat position, with Karl, Greg, Gooch (and Kurt) forming the stopping defense in from of them proved to be a formidable formation...zero, nil, zip, nada, zilch goals were scored against this formation.  The other 5 field players were taking care of business at the other end of the field.  With five players staying at home on defense, that means the other five have to essentially run end to end.  Jan and Tedd proved more than capable of running end to end for most of the game, their fitness was apparent.  That left a combination of Maurico #1 and Floppy G, to play in the sole striking roll, with Mooch and Chuck, playing in the attacking midfield role from the flanks...Jim L made a short appearance in the first half but left shortly thereafter.

With Tedd controlling play in the midfield and with Jan running down balls and breaking up plays we enjoyed a huge amount of possession during the second half, I would personally estimate our possession at around 70%, I would say a record in the modern Orangemen era.  

The first goal came as a result of Jan winning a goal kick bringing the ball straight back into the right side of the box.   As the shot came it and was blocked out and then deflected into the air and landed, with a bit of luck, right at the top of the box.  As the defense had flooded to the right, the entire left side of the box was open, including the goal.  Mooch was standing right where the ball landed, and he sized up the bounce for a volley into the left side of the net.  He attempted hit the ball with his laces but ended up coming across the top of the ball striking it with the inside of his angle.  The result was a weak shot that leisurely carried in the direction of the open left side of the goal. The ball slowly dropped, bounced once, and carried into the net.  It opened the scoring for the 2nd half.

Braddock would continuously try to move the ball out of their end, but the Orangemen were winning it in the air and bringing it right back across the half line.   On one such occasion Gooch came forward into space into the center of the field having won the ball.  He had options left and right.  Mooch who was screaming for Gooch to deliver it left gave up hope because he saw Gooch staring to the right, never making eye contact with him.  Mooch returned to his heels believing Gooch had missed the golden opportunity, just when Gooch played the ball forward into space ahead of him.  Gooch had faked out everyone on the field with his eye movements.  Suddenly Mooch had to accelerate after the ball to catch it.  Knowing the defense was faster than him his opportunity to control the ball and make a run at the goal had passed, but if he could beat the defender to the ball he could still get a cross in.  He arrived a split second before the defender and struck a perfectly weighted pass on the diagonal across the box.  It stayed on the ground and carried behind the last defenders outreached boot, but ahead of the keeper's grasp.  Maurico #1 was a streak of orange arriving in perfect time as the ball cleared the last defender,  but still within the sticks.  If he had any forward connection on the ball it was a certain goal.  Mooch could see the concentration on Mauricio's face as he connected perfectly with the ball, playing it straight forward into the net, the keeper didn’t have chance to react.  Goal number 2 was as sweet as they get.

Braddock Road was frustrated.  They knew they were being outplayed and couldn’t account for it given their success in the first half.  Phrases like, “we can’t let them do this to us in our house”, were heard coming from the lips of some of their frustrated players.  It was good to issue a little humiliation of our own given some of the recent outcomes of games played in our own house.    But the Orangemen were not finished.  We pressed forward keeping the ball in their end.  At one point we had five corner kicks is a very short period of time.  We had numerous shots on goal coming over and over again...a final breakthrough was in the air.  

Chuck, who had a marvelous opportunity go wanting a few moments earlier found himself at the top of the box calling for the ball.  Tedd played the ball into him.  The defense surged around him.  He turned on the ball to his right and created enough space to take a shot.  As he spun he kicked the ball with his left foot and curled it up and hard toward the center of the goal.  It appeared the keeper had it covered and jumped with both hands extended.  The curl Chuck put on the ball carried it above the keeper’s outstretched mitts and it sunk behind his hands and dropped below the crossbar for goal number three.

Alas, although with valiant effort, the Orangemen could not find the forth and equalizing goal before time ran out.  Another five minutes and they would have.  Regardless, the Orangemen should be proud of dominating the second half, and winning, that portion of the game outright.  Is was a tremendous showing.  It also proves that  two flat in the back is a winning defense when played correctly.

Forgot a special mention to Alfredo who played the entire game with Braddock against us so they wouldn't have to play a man down at the start of the game.  Thanks Alfredo for stepping up into the opposing role...you had a great game coming at us...had you only finished one or two of the opportunities...you might have damaged us in the second half...