OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX WINS FIRST STATE SUPER CUP
Westminster College, Utah.—Tim Ballantyne scored five minutes after coming on as a substitute to lead Olympique Montreux to a 1-0 victory over Westminster FC in the State first Super Cup.
It was an intense game featuring the state’s two best teams.
Westminster recently defeated Pan World FC to win the league’s Champions League tournament (Daynes Cup), and claimed the Utah Open Cup trophy by crushing First Division runner up FC Gunners.
This year, the Red Warriors of Olympique Montreux recaptured the Premiership title they had lost last year. The club’s First Division team repeated as champion.
Playing at home under the direction of its long time coach, Chris Dorich, Westminster took a conservative approach, compacting players in its defensive third and relied on a counterattack strategy featuring former OM great Chad Gilbert.
Chad scored almost 50 goals in all competitions in two seasons as an Olympian, and formed a legendary and lethal partnership with Sergio Vasquez who himself tallied over 30 goals during his time with Olympique Montreux.
With Mike Smith, Nathan Braun, Clayton Alexander and Hector “Kalu18” Rendon manning the defense, Chad never had a good look at goal throughout the match. Keeper Andre Dominguez skillfully handled the few Westminster shots that made it past the league’s best defense.
Midfielders Marcos “Tiva” Zarate and Jimmy “El Toro” Cuadros combined well with forwards Luis Garcia and Eduardo “Lalo” Romero who had the Red Warriors’ best chance in the 17th minute, but the team’s leading marksman was denied by Westminster’s elite goalkeeper Travis Rogers who stuck a leg out to push the ball out for a corner.
In the 22nd minute, Jimmy fired over the top after bulldozing his way past two Westminster
The Red Warriors continued to attack Westminster, firing shots after shots at the excellent Travis Rogers who basically kept Westminster in the game.
In the 34th minute, Travis Rogers stopped Luis Garcia’s shot that seemed to be heading for the back of the net.
In the 40th minute, Fernando Fox rattled Westminster’s left post.
OM’s domination continued but the Red Warriors could not find the target.
In the 80th minute, Tim Ballantyne replaced Fox. The left-footed winger’s pace soon turned into a nightmare for the backpedaling Westminster midfielders and defenders who appeared tired.
In the 85th minute, Tim ran into a well-served pass by midfielder Steve McMurdie, and first-timed a perfect shot beneath an onrushing Travis Rogers for the game’s winner.
With time running out, The Olympians made sure to swat away all Westminster attempts to lob the ball to a well-guarded Chad.
With this goal, Tim leaped into Olympique Montreux lore along side current manager Bel-Ami de Montreux, Alex Pogman and Justin Braun as players who have scored clutch goals in finals to earn the team important trophies.
It was on October 21, 2001 that, losing 2-1 to Aguas Calientes in the Spanish league, that Bel-Ami scored on a diving header to tie the game and send it into overtime. Three minutes into extra time, the late Alex Pogman scored the golden goal to win Olympique Montreux its first trophy.
On November 4, 2007, Justin Braun who now plays professionally for Chivas USA
“Tim is now an OM legend. I sent him into the game at the right time, knowing he had the skills to overtake Westminster’s defense. He distinguished himself,” said an elated Bel-Ami.
“The hard work paid off this year. I had coachable and devoted players who executed well. It makes a big difference when players are coachable and humble. The guys made sacrifices to get us here. We came out this year with the promise to work hard and play with respect. We did just that and won things along the way.”
OTHER NEWS…
***FIRST DIVISION DID THE DANCE.
As expected, the First Division completed its championship season and won the trophy for the second consecutive time. The only blemish came when the side allowed Bosnia USA to win 4-2 in the last game of the season in a game that did not count for much since the side had already clinched the title with two games to go.
That meaningless loss, however, did not deter the Red Warriors from chanting their now famous “My Players” fight song.
***OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX CRUSHED UTAH UNITED 10-1
October 24, 2009, at the Brad Pino Stadium, the Olympians welcomed the enterprising Carlos Nieto and his Utah United semipro team for a friendly end of season game. Soon after the starting bell, the Red Warriors milled Utah United by beating the semipro team 10-1, despite the presence in goal of former OM keeper Martin Martinez and former Mexican pro player Roberto Islas.
With this destruction of Utah United, it is becoming clearer that “The Brad Pino” grounds at Cottonwood High School are a daunting place for visitors to come play soccer against Bel-Ami’s protégés.
***OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX BEAT AFRICAN RED STARS
On October 31, 2009, the Red Warriors hosted the African Lone Stars at The Brad Pino. With several players missing the game, Bel-Ami was forced to feature in the starting eleven. Defender Colton Spencer played in goal because regular goalkeeper Andre Dominguez was observing a Muslim Holiday.
The Lone starts drew first blood when they opened the score. The Lone stars continued to dominate the Olympians until Marcos “Tiva” Zarate entered the game to take over midfield.
In the 34th minute, Tiva opened the Lone Stars defense, found Bel-Ami who outraced his markers, rubbed off another defender before sending the keeper diving in the wrong direction to tie the score.
Forward Alan Ruelas looked surprised at the way the manager made it look easy to score.
Bel-Ami limped off the field at the half.
Jimmy “El Toro” Cuadros scored the winner in the 82nd minute.
“Bel-Ami should take cortisone shots in his knees and everywhere else and play in the games, said Tiva.
“He rarely plays in a game and not score.”
Wishful thinking!
