BOSNIA USA, OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX CLASH IN UTAH OPEN CUP FINAL

OLYMPIANS COMPLETE THREE TITLES CRUSADE WITH 3-0 VICTORY

Pierre d'Estaim

Sports Writer

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE, UTAH (October 28, 2006).-Sergio Vasquez scored on a penalty kick in the first half and Todd Miller and Kenny Barton each scored in the second half to help Olympique Montreux overcome a very good Bosnia USA side featuring great players like Branislav Nicolic, Zelico Krsic, Ismel Mukic and the balletic Hermin Sasivarevic.

With this victory, the Olympians accomplished a great feat in winning their third major trophy this year to earn the label “Best Team in Utah.”

Referee Ismael Rodriguez under pressure

This was an enormous game for both teams and they came ready to play. And play they did. The game was very physical. Veteran central referee Ismael Rodriguez indeed had a very busy whistle, trying to keep the match under control. He showed yellow cards at least six times, and ejected one player from each team in the 49th minute, Sergio and Bosnia USA defender Alija Hijdarevic.

The Panthers of Bosnia USA livened up the pace in the first half and threatened the Olympians who looked uncomfortable and excessively cautious with the physical play of their opponents.

Sergio gives the Olympians the lead

OM drew first blood however. In the 11th minute Nate Murphy fed a wide ball to winger Ricky Johnson who outpaced his marker and penetrated the area where he was fouled hard from behind. Referee Ismael had no choice but to award the penalty kick although he surprisingly failed to sanction the guilty player. Sergio stepped up to open the score. 1-0.

Striker Zelico Krsic comes alive

The Panthers did not let that goal affect their resolve. They quickly went on the attack. In the 15th minute, number 10 Branislav found Zelico open at the edge of the area. Zelico unleashed a powerful strike that called for OM keeper Aaron Bruderer to make a miracle save.

Two minutes later, Olympian Chad Gilbert managed to outrun his markers and escape several rough attempts to come face to face with Bosnia USA keeper Ismel Mukic who parried Chad's shot.

Zelico was at it again in the 20th minute. From a smart Hermin pass, the striker dribbled past defender Jeremy Jones and OM keeper Aaron again proved, colorful hair or not, why he is the best shot blocker alive in Utah. The Olympian keeper paid back the faith put in him in tipping Zelico's wicked shot over the bar.

This was followed by Bosnia USA forward Smir Delilbasic's thunderous shot that ricocheted off the near post with Aaron clearly beaten in the 39th minute.

The Olympians forwards did not remain quiet though. In the 42nd minute, Ricky came close to scoring, but a very effective and vigilant Ismel was well positioned to deny the winger.

Two minutes later, Sergio headed the ball to Jake Cavanaugh whose volley was just wide.

The T&T midfield weaponry

After the interval, the Premiership champions and Daynes Challenge Cup winners went to work with a vengeance. Manager Bel-Ami advised to either do what they do best, move the ball to avoid physical punishment and when needed, be as physical.

Bel-Ami also made a tactical change, aligning Todd Miller in midfield with Trinidad international Tiger Fitzpatrick. The strategy paid off quickly. At the 49th minute, Tiger dished the ball to Jake who scored. However, the lineman ruled Jake offside and referee Ismael agreed, canceling the goal.

The Olympians kept attacking. Chad, Todd and Tiger were cruising at will through the Panthers' defense.  But for Ismel's goal-tending heroics, Chad could have turned the game into a rout.

The game was now being played in the Panthers' half of the field with the Olympians trying hard to score the second goal.

It's Miller time!

At the hour mark, the Tiger and Todd combination paid a handsome dividend. Taking the ball from midfield, Tiger faked left, then faked right, went right anyway as his marker stumbled and fell, passed to Todd who beat a defender,  nutmegged a second and audaciously rounded Ismel to slot the ball into the empty net. A beautiful goal it was! 2-0.

A very busy Keeper Ismel Mukic

In the 68th minute, Ricky came close to scoring the third goal. Brave Ismel was there again. Chad followed with two great runs, but again Ismel was always there to deny the marksman.

Bel-Ami sent in Kenny Barton for Todd in the 75th minute. Moments later, Kenny and Tiger combined a series of good passes with winger Jesse Day that put the Bosnian defense on its heels.

The Barton of a maestro

Barely three minutes later, Tiger picked up a pass from defender Mike Rogers and snaked up field misleading his markers, escaped a couple of rough plays to timely pass the ball to Kenny who powered past two defenders and came face to face with Ismel.

Kenny faked a kick and as Ismel vacillated, the midfielder cheekily  rounded him à la Todd Miller to put the ball on target. 3-0.

“Best team in Utah”

The game ended with the Bosnian side making several attempts to attack, but OM captain Paul Williams and the rest of the defense proved to be quite a tall barricade despite Hermin's and Branislav's amazing skills on the ball.

“You guys are the best team in the league this season,” said Utah Soccer Association president Bill Bosgraff, as he handed the Utah Open Cup trophy to the Olympians.

A total of four trophies in 2006

Indeed the Olympians showed courage, consistency, discipline, sacrifice and faith in their manager this season in winning all three available league trophies, the Utah Premiership Championship, the Centennial Daynes Challenge Cup and now the Utah Open Cup Title. A treble in soccer parlance.

It should not be forgotten the side also won the University of Utah full field Indoor League trophy last February. A total of four trophies this football year.

Special thanks for the sacrifices

“Bosnia USA played very well and came close to changing the course of the game a few times. They showed why they are one of the best teams in Utah,“ said Bel-Ami.

“We will be taking sometime off before we start training for the Budweiser Cup in Las Vegas next February. I understand no Utah team has ever won that trophy. We will try to change that. I feel we have the personnel.”

“I am proud of the twenty players I have. I wish I could play all of them 90 minutes in each game, but I can only select the best performing eleven at any particular moment. It has been a very long and fruitful season and all the players have had opportunities. We practiced in all weather; freezing rain and hot summer days and even in the fall early darkness. I did the best I could and I thank the players for their unselfishness and their Olympic performance,” added the manager.

Bel-Ami's humility aside, this was by far the side's most successful year in nearly seven years of existence.