By Ralph Calvin HICKEY-FREEMAN
Sports Writer
WEST JORDAN , UTAH
Team Xcel started the game aggressively and dominated possession for the first 15 minutes. The Olympians appeared to be backpedaling, leaving too many open spaces for Xcel’s strikers to make dangerous plays.
Sports Writer
Team Xcel started the game aggressively and dominated possession for the first 15 minutes. The Olympians appeared to be backpedaling, leaving too many open spaces for Xcel’s strikers to make dangerous plays.
Xcel draws first blood
In the 10th minute, an Xcel forward intercepted a weak clearance by Brian Dunseth near the edge of the penalty box and volleyed the ball into the net. Keeper Martin Martinez did not have time to react.
Taking command of the game
In the 10th minute, an Xcel forward intercepted a weak clearance by Brian Dunseth near the edge of the penalty box and volleyed the ball into the net. Keeper Martin Martinez did not have time to react.
Taking command of the game
The Olympians did not lose their cool after that setback. They quickly regrouped behind the creative game of Nate Murphy and Matt Woolley who are developing a great partnership in the middle of the field.
A lively Jesse Day kept the pressure on the left flank, running tirelessly into the opponent’s defensive third and placing quality crosses into the penalty area. In the 23rd minute, El Tanque hooked up with one of them to tie the score on a spectacular header.
Two minutes later, Jesse took off from midfield, cut inside and put a strong ground shot in the area. As Jimmy Cuadros was fast approaching, an Xcel defender deflected the ball into his own net for an own goal.
In the 27th minute, Josh Kimball, operating wide right and equaling Jesse’s multiple raids dribbled past a defender and came close to scoring.
Jimmy Cuadros rising
In the 29th minute, the Olympians took complete control of midfield. With Judd Soderborg warming up on the sidelines and ready to come in for Jimmy, the Peruvian striker fired a point blank shot that gave the Olympians a commanding 3-1 lead.
Run Jesse, run
In the second half, Jesse went right back to work, running at the defense. In the 50th minute, he forced the keeper into a great save.
In the 65th minute, Matt crossed the ball from the left and El Tanque rose above the defenders to head in the fourth goal.
Ten minutes later, Louis Staley found Jimmy unmarked in the box and the forward added the fifth goal on a stylish shot.
Josh scored the last goal from a Jimmy pass at the 89th minute.
“We put in a good performance against a traditionally strong side. It is early in the season. I see fitness still as an issue with this squad. Jimmy’s tongue was hanging out of his mouth in the opening minutes. We have to be fitter to increase in power,” said
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MEN OF THE MATCH: Matt Woolley and Nate Murphy
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GOAL COUNTER
David Chevez, 7 goals
Justin Braun, 5 goals
Jimmy Cuadros, 3
Josh Kimball, 2 goals
Nate Murphy, 1 goal
Jesse Day, 1 goal
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STARTING LINE UP
Martin Martinez, Brian Dunseth, John McQuarrie, Jesse Day, Nate Murphy, Matt Woolley, Josh Kimball, Jimmy Cuadros, Todd Miller, David Chevez, Louis Staley.
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SUBSTITUTION[S]
Judd Soderborg
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