On a warm night the Orangemen faced off against FC Valpo at the South Run Complex. After installing the nets, turning on the lights and paying the ref, it was time to get down to business. Orangemen were wearing orange and FC Valpo were wearing light blue.
In goal for the Orangemen was Gene. Karl, Greg, and John H were on-board as full-backs. Coach was recently back from flight requalification at Tyndall. With Tedd away, Mooch started Bryan in midfield. Jose came as Bryan’s visitor. Mauricio and Alfredo started in midfield, leaving Mooch and Wil to start up top. Matt would come just at kick-offf and would have to wait a few before stepping on as a stopper.
Within minutes FC Valpo scored an amazingly soft goal...culminating in a run down the left side, a ball cross low and slow across the goalmouth, with Walter P running in from the right for a simple tap in. Mooch has switched the defense to our two sweeper formation, one which we haven’t used in a while.
As the first half continued, it was clear that FC Valpo was getting the better of us...a severe lack of passing allowed Valpo to pressure in our end and take shot after shot.. A lack of passing up top and through the midfield inhibited us from putting any type of offense together. We had several set pieces right in front of Valpos’ goal which all fell flat.
Valpo’s third goal came just minutes before the end of the first half, a ball with hit the post and as Gene closed for it, bounced off him and back into the net. A very soft goal but one which sent the Orangemen to the locker room fairly dejected.
On Wil’s insistence, Mooch moved Bryan to striker with him and Mooch trading off and stepping into the holding midfield position. Almost immediately Bryan was making an impact up top. His speed enabled him to blast by the defenders with the ball. Wil was constantly playing the ball over the top to Bryan who would run onto to it and then go one on one with the keeper. His first goal game on his third run. As the keeper came out Bryan easily chipped it over him into the far right side netting. His second goal, however, he was on the right, and Mauricio played to ball up to him. From outside side corner of the box, Bryan turned on the ball, and struck a rocket to the far left corner of the net. The Orangemen had pulled two back. Bryan’s hattrick game on just another break away run. The Orangemen were even.
Then a series of unfortunate events befell the Orangemen. With only one Sub Mooch was trying to make sure we rotated through the positions to give everyone a breather… However, an injury, or how should I say, a fantastic defensive block, by Coach, resulted in his removal from the pitch and the dry heaves behind the bleachers. His challenge to shut down a Valop shot resulted in him receiving a line-drive directly to his family heirlooms dropping him to the deck like a lifeless g-suit discarded post flight and lying on the ops room floor. The ref called for a stop in action and when Pete regained his feet to hobble off the pitch where he assumed the aforementioned dry heave position behind the bleachers. Maurico stepped in to play stopper. In the last 5 minutes of the game, John H came out of the back to break up a play just outside the box, Unfortunately the ref judged John to have put more of his foot on the striker then the ball and awarded John a yellow card for breaking up the play. With less than 5 minutes to go, John would have to sit the yellow card suspension and the rest of the game. With no other subs Coach had to catch his breath an hobble back onto the field.
With two minutes to go it looked like the Orangemen could hold the tie. A ball came looping into the box and Karl ran onto it in the center of the box. I assess Karl would but the outside of his right boot to the ball to clear it, but instead, believing Wil was close by him, let the ball bounce and run in behind. Wil, who was behind him, was thinking more about the 8 ouch Heinichen's out in his cooler for after the game, then the danger. A Valpo player sprinted in behind, collected the ball, drove into the box and scored. Valop went up 3 to 4 and it looked like it was over.
The Orangemen had a surge of adrenaline as the kicked off. The ball came forward and Mooch had a play on it. He won the ball from a defender who was giving him fits, due to his speed all game… but lost the handle on it… The ball dropped back a yard and as Mooch turned for it he saw Alfredo charging in to take a shot. Mooch stepped to the side and Alfredo struck the ball from 22 yards out toward the goal. The keeper scrambled backward and the shot curled into to the tippy top right corner of the net. Goooaaaaaall! Alfredo had scored in the last 30 second of the game saving a well played second half and a 4 to 4 tie for the match.
Nice return to form Orangemen! You always know you did well if Mooch is inspired enough on a Sunday morning to right down the notes!! We then enjoyed the refreshments Wil brought for our post game enjoyment to talk about the game and Mooch's new ride (pictured top). We also talked about what we are going to do with both Coach and John H, our entire central defending staff, leaving in about a month.
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