PACY LAZIO HOLDS FATIGUED OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX TO 1-1 TIE

By Pierre d'Estaing
Sports Writer

Olympique Montreux, 1
Lazio, 1

West Salt Lake (May 16). -Lazio was gifted a penalty in the final minutes of the game to equalize the score and take a point from a fatigued and misfiring Olympique Montreux.

Playing their fourth league game in nine days in addition to a friendly match against Bountiful College, the Olympians appeared tired, prone to too many turnovers and unable to convert many chances.

Full of brio Lazio

A high-spirited Lazio, known for their endurance and led by Mister Chris Dorich, the coach of the Utah Men's Select Team, came out firing on all cylinders, backing the Olympians in their own half of the field for some uncomfortable minutes.

With only three substitutes to choose from a possible seven, OM manager Bel-Ami de Montreux attempted several strategies and rotated his men as best as possible to save energy. With OM's playmakers committing a few turnovers too many, Lazio, apparently the fittest team, was winning most of the midfield fights.

Despite their pace, Lazio was unable to unnerve keeper Aaron Bruderer thanks to the cool play of defenders John McQuarrie, Paul Williams and Jeremy Jones. Bruderer, however, was called upon a couple of times to parry a few dangerous Lazio shots.

In the 12th minute, fullback Mike Rogers had a good look at the Lazio goal, but shot wide. In the 21st minute, Chad Gilbert who was triple covered for most of the match had his shot blocked.

Forward Sergio Vasquez opened the scoring at the 30 minute mark after receiving the ball from a combination between Nate Murphy and Todd Miller. Vasquez, who has scored in each game he has been in this season, placed a powerful looping shot past the diving Lazio keeper.

Too many missed opportunities

The Olympians had a second chance to score when forward Ricky Johnson was taken down inside Lazio's 18 yard in the 57th minute. Unfortunately, Vasquez's penalty shot hit the left post and sailed out of play.

After the missed penalty, Lazio dominated ball possession, but could not score. Johnson came close to scoring the security goal, but Lazio's keeper tipped his shot over the bar. 

In the 88th minute, the referee called a hand ball in the area and awarded a penalty to Lazio who made sure to equalize.

The game ended 1-1, with Lazio winning the spot kicks.

Each team is awarded one point in the Utah system when they are tied after regulation time, although they proceed to penalty kicks.

RICKY JOHNSON, SERGIO VASQUEZ SHINE IN VICTORY OVER BOSNIA USA

Pierre d'Estaing, Sports Writer

Olympique Montreux, 4
Bosnia USA, 0

West Salt Lake, Utah (May 13) - Showing why he is Utah's most lethal striker, Sergio Vasquez scored the first goal to lead Olympique Montreux to victory over Bosnia USA at a crucial moment when the Bosnian team was feeling comfortable, having weathered the Olympians' heavy artillery for the first 12 minutes.

Taking it to them

Number nine Vasquez was dangerous from the opening whistle, and with striking partner Chad Gilbert, wreaked havoc on the Bosnia defense.

But for the heroics of goalkeeper Emil Omanovic, the game could have been put to rest rather early.

The Bosnian team, featuring a number of former professionals from the German Bundesliga tried to make a comeback after Vasquez's 12th minute goal, sent keeper Aaron Bruderer into a full stretch dive to deflect a wicked shot by their playmaker Branislav Romanovic.

In the 18th minute, OM free kick specialist Jeremy Jones placed a beautiful shot over the wall, but the effort resulted in a corner. In the 37th minute, Vasquez and Gilbert were at it again, combining a few fast passes, penetrated into the area where Vasquez let loose a powerful shot. Omanovic was able to push it out. Forward Ricky Johnson tapped in the rebound for the second goal.

Plan B: bulldozer tactics

Down 2-0, the Bosnians tried to regroup in the second half, but OM's solid midfielders won all the battles. The few combinations that seeped past the midfield were quickly derailed by central defender Paul Williams and his comrades.

Growing more and more frustrated, some of the Bosnians, following the example of their central defender, Adis Alagic, all but stopped playing football and began to dish out callous fouls. One of them was ejected in the 55th minute for going for midfielder Kenny Barton's ankles with his cleats up. Barton was lucky to avoid what could have been a career ending injury.

Using their numerical advantage, the Olympians passed the ball around with efficiency. In the 67th minute, Gilbert penetrated the Bosnian defense, and made great service for midfielder Nate Murphy who made the score 3-0.

In the 88th minute, midfielder Tracy McGuire ran past a couple of Bosnia USA defenders, found an open Mike Polich in the penalty area. Polich made sure to score although he was fouled quite violently minutes earlier.

“We never doubted we could get a result against that team. The main concern was at what high injury price. Some of the Bosnian players seem to naturally enjoy inflicting physical pain on their opponents instead of playing the beautiful game,” said Bel-Ami de Montreux in post game comments.

“The sad thing about Bosnia USA is that it has some of the best players in Utah on the roster. Their number 9 was great to watch. If Bosnia USA ever really plays football, it could make it difficult for  opponents,”  Bel-Ami added.

EMIL FURCHT SCORES ON HIS DEBUT AS OM DEFEATS TEAM XCEL

OM 1, XCEL 0

Pierre d'Estaing, Sports writer

West Jordan, UT (May 10) - Emil Furcht scored a cracking goal in the 30th minute, barely seconds after coming in the game and Olympique Montreux beat Team Xcel 1-0 Wednesday night.

It was a good match as both teams displayed skills and speed with not one actually dominating the other. In fact, Team Xcel threatened OM often in the first 10 minutes, while forward Mike Polich had the Olympians' best scoring chances early on, coming close twice on powerful headers. Also, Jeremy Jones hit the post on a beautifully taken free kick in the 20th minute.

With the two best goalkeepers in the league, OM's Aaron Bruderer and Xcel's Chad Sackett, facing two high powered offenses, both men were called upon to make great saves throughout the match to keep their teams in the game. Keeper Bruderer earned his fourth shutout in four starts.

Although the teams offered a good display of sportsmanship and high level soccer, it was unfortunate that the lead referee chose to make himself the center of attention by making incredible calls and displaying poor judgment similar to the decision that had Real Salt Lake's Jason Kreis ejected in the game against the Los Angeles Galaxy a fortnight ago.

"The level of skills of the players greatly outmatch the potential of many refs, and week in and week out, some defects creep into games. That's part and parcel of the competition here," said Bel-Ami de Montreux, OM's manager, after the game. "Generally, however, the officiating is good and getting better as older players are getting into officiating."

JOSHUA KIMBALL IN FULL FLIGHT AS OM THUMPS BOSNIA UNITED 7-0

Pierre d'Estaing, Sports Writer

Salt Lake City(May 6).--Olympique Montreux FC was in festive mood this afternoon with a comfortable victory against Bosnia United. Goalkeeper Chad Evans made his first start for the side and earned the shut out as the team collected all twelve points in four games and conceded only one goal and scored 22. Last season's Golden Boot winner, Sergio Vasquez, leads the way with nine goals.

It's raining goals, alleluia!

The Bosnian team was keen to take something from the match, not wanting to sink to new lows, having collected zero point in their first three games. Unfortunately for them, however, the Olympians had other ideas. From the start, they pushed the Bosnians against the wall with a machine gun volley of three goals in the opening 15 minutes. Chad Gilbert tallied in the 4th minute, Tracy McGuire in the 8th minute, and Sergio Vasquez made it 3-0 two minutes later. The Olympians were so dominating that any effort their opponents tried to muster were swatted aside quickly. Bel-Ami's men just dominated possession with their familiar quick passing style.

The power of a pretty fan

Although all components of the OM machinery were working perfectly, the performance of Josh Kimball is worthy of special mention. Perhaps the presence of a young woman of a certain beauty had something to do with the winger cranking his game up several gears. Kimball delighted the public and impressed his teammates with his prolific running at the opponents and successful Zidanesque moves. Kimball is having a good run in the side and making the most of it. Today especially, he apparently found a talisman.

The winger was brilliant in creating the second goal. In the 8th minute, he picked the ball up some ten yards out of the area, sped past two defenders and slipped it to McGuire who fired on goal and was delighted to see his shot neatly resting in the back of the net. It was a classic finish that McGuire can be proud of after being injured in last week's game against Utah Mix.

Number seven McGuire could have doubled his tally moments later when Kimball picked him out in the area, after controlling the ball and firing his shot, Bosnia United's keeper was able to push it out, but striker Ricky Johnson was there for the tap in. Bosnia then tested Evans as Admir Softic, a 2001 OM alumnus, took aim from 30 yards only to see Evans parry the ball with authority.

The Barton-Murphy magic show

With the lead secured, Nate Murphy and Kenny Barton began entertaining the crowd with a series of flicks, dummies and pinpoint passes that were greeted with loud olé cheers, but the defense still had to be on its guard as the wind was proving a tricky ally of the Bosnians. In the 20th minute, Barton found Vasquez and the prolific marksman one-timed a perfect shot to claim his 9th goal of the young season.

Five minutes later, Todd Miller sent a long ball forward. Murphy controlled it, slid the ball past the Bosnians defense to Barton who returned the favor and the in-form Murphy slotted home for the sixth goal of the afternoon. Ricky Johnson closed the scoring two minutes from time.

Olympique Montreux in full control

The seven first half goals relaxed the Olympians who basically controlled the second half and maintained 95 percent possession. They remained vigilant though as Softic and Zlatan Radalovic tried a couple of times to thread through the Olympians' minefields. With the game already won, Bel-Ami used the opportunity to enforce OM's policy not to run up the score and take unnecessary risks. The game ended a bit prematurely as several United Bosnia players either became sick, injured or literally stopped playing.