OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX WINS 2006 DAYNES CHALLENGE CUP

CHAD GILBERT RISES TO THE TOP IN 4-1 VICTORY OVER PARK CITY NEWPARK

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

WEST JORDAN, UT. (October 21, 2006).--Olympique Montreux captured its second straight Daynes Challenge Cup trophy this evening in a 4-1 victory over close rival Park City Newpark at the West Jordan Soccer Complex. Two goals from Tiger Fitzpatrick, a superb finish from Chad Gilbert and a Sergio Vasquez penalty capped a professional performance.

The side had captured the Premiership title two weeks ago, and was aiming to win the century-old Daynes Challenge Cup en route to the showdown against Bosnia USA for the Utah Open Cup title next week.

This OM team has class written all over it. The players know how to play pretty and they can play hard when necessary. Key qualities to have if you want to win three titles in one season in such a competitive league. Park City was as aggressive as always, but Bel-Ami's side proved to be more than a match for its opponents.

A complicated 4-5-1 formation

There were a few changes to the starting line up that Bel-Ami put on the pitch for that all too important game and he made some technical modifications to the team's traditional 4-4-2.  Jake Cavanaugh started on the left wing, making way for marksman Sergio Vasquez to operate on the right side of the field instead of his usual center forward position.

Anticipating Park City's furious aerial game, OM lined up in a 4-5-1 formation featuring hitman Gilbert as the lone striker in front of midfield playmakers Tiger and Nate Murphy followed by Todd Miller as the holding midfielder and the two wide men operating like an accordion to shut down long passes and put numbers in front of the back four. Confusing to explain, but the Olympians executed its operations effectively.

Gilbert shifts to a higher gear

The new look formation was threatening early on as Gilbert slipped behind the defense and placed a good shot on frame in only the 4th minute. The keeper had to dive full length to push the ball out of bound. Cavanaugh was threatening in the air on the subsequent corner.

In the 12th minute, Murphy and Tiger combined well and the Trinidad international made sure to half volley Nate's needle sharp service past the keeper.  1-0.

As the half wore on, Gilbert increased in power. In the 30th minute, the striker beat the Snowmen's defense and buried the ball in the far right corner to put OM ahead 2-0. There was nothing the keeper could do about Gilbert's laser sharp strike.

Nate & Tiger's Great Daynes Show

Right after the restart, Tiger and Nate again combined to make the score 3-0 at the 48th minute. It was vintage Nate stuff. The playmaker served Tiger a Brazilian no-look pass and the in-form Trinidadian did what true predators do best. He latched onto the ball and the staggered keeper was immediately condemned to go get the ball in the back of the cage. 3-0.

Four minutes later, Tiger came close to collecting a hot trick. However, the keeper was able to deviate the shot at the last second.

With the Olympians blitzing through the middle almost at will, the crowd was already thinking that the rout was on when the Snowmen pulled a goal back at the 57th minute.  3-1.

Ser-gol from the spot

After their goal, the Snowmen reinvigorated and went looking for more. The Olympians' defense and keeper Aaron Bruderer rose to the occasion to withstand a flurry of good shots from the very mobile Liam Hanafer and their skillful playmaker Antonio Salvador.

OM got its fourth and last goal in the 85th minute when Kenny Barton was brought down in the penalty area as he was pulling the trigger from a fine Everton do Prado pass. Leading scorer Sergio Vasquez made sure to score from the penalty spot. The score was 4-1.

Like true champions, the Snowmen did not stop playing despite the score. They brazenly pushed forward and looked menacing on a couple of occasions. One was on a Liam freekick that called for Aaron to make a full lunge. Another Liam effort sailed over the crossbar.

Now on for the Treble

The stage is set for the final of the Utah Open Cup at Westminster College next Saturday against Bosnia USA and there is no love lost between the two sides. With two new fine pieces of silverware on the shelves in the trophy room, Captain Paul Williams and his Olympian mates are still very hungry.

“This team plays to win and when a major title is in the outcome, we want it.  Next to the Daynes Challenge Cup, the Utah Open Cup is huge and we definitely want to treble this year,” said the star defender.

As for his expectations next week, manager Bel-Ami acknowledged that the Bosnian side is riding high on the crest of a very successful end of the season and they usually bring a large crowd of fans to support them.

“I expect a very skilful opponent and rowdy audience. While we have a slight psychological hedge on them, they definitely have home field advantage. We will have to be careful and play our best.”