GREENSBORO, NC (June 27, 2009) - Day two of US Soccer’s Development Academy playoffs held at Bryant Park sees a dramatic turn around for FC DELCO as both teams won huge games positioning them to advance to the Finals at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. The FC DELCO Under-15/16s faced the leagues overall #2 seeded Arsenal FC - a perennial powerhouse. With Arsenal’s classic possession-oriented style of their namesake in the English Premier League, they clearly controlled the action in the first half. FC DELCO’s goal keeper, Max Kurtzman, was called into action on numerous occasions to keep the scoreline tied nil-nil at the end of the first half.
The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute when FC DELCO’s Chris Somerville carried the ball across the Arsenal defensive line probing for a weakness when he spotted Jimmy McLaughlin waiting at the top of the area. Somerville connected with McLaughlin who turned to his left and slotted the ball past the Arsenal keeper. Sensing a premature end to their season, the scoreline pushed Arsenal into a frenetic pace; pushing bodies forward in search of an equalizer. In the 60th minute however, FC DELCO caught Arsenal on a counter and forced an offensive throw in deep in Arsenal territory. DELCO’s Alec Sowers executed a long throw onto the head of Alex Beatty who flicked it towards the Arsenal goal. The Arsenal keeper seemed to make the difficult save but was judged to either be in the goal at the time of the save or his backward momentum carried him and the ball over the line. Either way, FC DELCO was now - improbably and against the run of play - up 2-nil on the heavily favored Arsenal. After careful review by the DGP (Dubious Goals Panel), the goal was awarded to Beatty as the Arsenal keeper was judged to be in the goal at the time of the save.
At this point Arsenal, with their season all but over, began to lose their composure and accumulate fouls. Late in the game two Arsenal players were sent off reducing them to 9 players. The late red cards and many fouls are not typical of the Arsenal side and should be viewed as the frustrated action of disappointed young men. For FC DELCO, the match up on Monday is a dream come true as they are now one win away from an all expense paid trip to The Home Depot Center national finals.
The second FC DELCO game saw the Under-17/18s pitted against mid-west powerhouse Vardar. Recapping yesterday’s tragic events, FC DELCO lost to bottom seeded Richmond Strikers when Joseph Schmid was sent off in the 29th minute forcing them to chase the game for 61 minutes with only 10 men. DELCO needed to win today in order to have a chance of advancing. They would still need help however as IMG Academy would need the defeat the Strikers as well. FC DELCO began the match in good spirits and positive play. While DELCO recently beat Vardar 2-0 in Sarasota, FL, Vardar did not have their national pool strikers and were not fighting to save their season. The game had all the ingredients for an exciting contest.
FC DELCO opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Andrew O’Malley scored off a direct kick by Kyle Soroka. The score seemed to pour gasoline onto an already burning fire as both teams upped the tempo to seemingly unsustainable levels. In order to take advantage of their obvious strengths, Vardar was playing a very direct game into their two talented front runners. FC DELCO was forced into uncharacteristically giving up far too many corner kicks. As each corner passed, Varder was looking more and more dangerous.
Late in the first half, FC DELCO’s Soroka pounced on a Vardar defensive error and found himself in on goal and beating the keeper putting DELCO up 2-nil on the day. As expected, Vardar came out in the second half playing like their entire season was on the line which, of course, it was. Relentlessly they pounded the ball deep into their forwards pressuring the DELCO defensive back line. In the 72nd minute, FC DELCO was dispossessed in the midfield with their defensive line pressed up high. Vardar took advantage of the turnover and drove deep into DELCO territory and scored. The game was now poised for 15 explosive minutes of gut-wrenching football.
Vardar began to throw bodies forward with reckless abandon and it was all hands to the pumps for DELCO. As DELCO began to give up one corner after another they seemed more and more likely to cough up the equalizer. While Vardar was pushing FC DELCO onto the back foot they began to leave their own defense exposed. On two separate occasions, FC DELCO failed to exploit an open Vardar net which would have sealed the result. In the end, the DELCO defense held and they got their result. The scene was now set for an exciting conclusion as IMG Academy also defeated the Richmond Strikers. FC DELCO now needs to beat IMG Academy and Vardar needs to tie or beat Richmond for DELCO to advance. Keep the defibrillators handy ... clear!
Finally, on the last day of the Academy season, FC DELCO has the possibility of both of its teams advancing to the Academy finals; a tremendous achievement.
