West Salt Lake, Oct. 8 -- By any account, Todd Miller, International's dominant center full back, is still the best soccer player ever to come out of Utah's high school and collegiate systems. The elegant sweeper, a Westminster College alumnus, showed his superior class this afternoon although his team sustained a lopsided loss to Utah Mix at Westpointe Park in West Salt Lake.
Many spectators and soccer commentators were shocked that only 9 men showed up for International when the side had everything to play for. Before today's result, only one point separated them from Olympique Montreux with both teams still to face each other in what would have been the most important fixture in Group A, with the winner booking a place in the Daynes Cup and an chance to win Utah's most prestigious soccer Title.
Nine men against 11 in the Premiership is a difficult task on any given day. Under freezing rain and on one of Salt Lake City's numerous shoddy and crater-laden soccer fields, it is indeed a tall order.
To make things even worse, an International player was sent off in the opening minutes of the first half.
For what seems like an eternity, the remaining eight International players held their own admirably against a revenge-minded Utah Mix whom International defeated 1-0 in a breathtaking display last month.
But the numerical mismatch in personnel, bad weather conditions and the waterlogged pitch took their toll on the super eagles as Utah Mix went up 3-0 at the half with goals by Edgard Robles, Raul Mersenaro and Ervin Castello.
The second half was as one-sided as the first. Utah Mix made good use of the width of the field to stretch the undermanned super eagles. Marsenaro scored again and Andres Zavales also got a brace.
Despite the score, The super moment of the match belongs to Miller who practically dribbled the ball from inside his own penalty area, ran past virtually the entire Utah Mix midfield, shook off the defenders in his way and misled the goal keeper who dove the wrong way to score International's consolation goal.
It was a goal for the league's anthology.
I am a competitor. I have defended the colors I am wearing for more or less a decade. I had to push forward for my team's honor, said Miller.
The fans who braved the elements to watch the game applauded Miller and his teammates for putting up a good fight against the odds. The result aside, the eight men who stood up to defend International's reputation despite the inexcusable absence of their teammates must be saluted.
They showed the stuff of champions.
They are all men of the match.
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OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX CAN MAKE DAYNES CUP DATE WITH WIN OVER DLD NEXT WEEK
By Rubio Moran
LNS Writer
With International's loss to Utah Mix this afternoon, Olympique Montreux who won this evening by forfeit when Pan World capitulated, can claim the title of Group A next week with a win over DLD FC and make airline and hotel reservations for the Daynes Cup. The Olympians will meet International in a fortnight. If OM wins next week, the result will not matter much. Nonetheless, the super eagles will be playing for pride and may come well armed to balance the scales, having lost to the Olympians in the team's first match up last month.
Bel-Ami de Montreux expects to have a healthy squad at his disposal.
Against DLD, I still hope to start the players who were selected this week. I need them to get experience in big matches, and DLD is as big as they come. I will rest some players for the classico with International on October 22. Not looking past DLD, the result of the International game may not matter, but I expect a spirited game between old friends who do not like to lose to each other, explained de Montreux.
Still, if we beat DLD and qualify for the Daynes Cup tie, I will not take unnecessary risks against International. We will play to win, but not win at all costs, added the coach.
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NEXT GAME: OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX vs. DLD FC at Westpointe Park, Sat. October 15 at 4:00 PM
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