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.

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.”

HAVING CLINCHED THE TITLE, OM LOSES LAST LEAGUE GAME

EXCEL'S MATT KEDDINGTON WEIGHS IN: MISSING FACTS

(Read below)

Xcel, 1
Olympique Montreux, 0

By Pierre D'ESTAIM
Sports Writer

KAYSVILLE, UT. (October 14, 2006).-Xcel handed Olympique Montreux its second defeat of the season in the Utah Premiership thanks to a counter attack goal in the 49th minute.

An Xcel striker ran into a speculative long shot and expertly looped the ball over the head of keeper Chad Evans who had wandered much too far off his line.

Since OM had clinched the Premiership title with a 4-2 victory over Park City Newpark last week, manager Bel-Ami wanted to use this game to see different attacking pairings and midfield formations ahead of the Daynes Cup final next Saturday against co-finalist Park City Newpark, and the Utah Open Cup final in a fortnight against Bosnia USA.

Counting backward from 500 to one

Unfortunately for the sport and the fans, Xcel parked a double-decker bus in front of goal and did all it could to waste time. For nearly the whole game, Xcel jam-packed its players inside the penalty box and when the side would get goal kicks, keeper Devin Zimmerman, an OM alum, would count from 500 backward to one before putting the ball into play.

Devin would slowly go get the ball from out of bound, very, very slowly. He'd then walk back even slower to the field. Next he'd blow the dirt off the ball and carefully sweep the grass at the six-yard line before putting the ball down. Then he'd moonwalk 10, 15 yards off the field at a snail's pace, run turtle like to the ball and kick it out of bound. 

Devin did all that crap without any OM field player complaining. The timid ref finally booked him for time wasting at the 80th minute.

Global domination but no goal

OM totally dominated the game from start to finish. Fleet footed frontman Chad Gilbert pierced the steel wall often, but could not find the target.  Midfielders Nate Murphy, Ken Barton and Tiger Fitzpatrick ran past defenders after defenders only to bump into more defenders. Captain Todd Miller pushed forward to help, but to no avail.

When OM strikers Jesse Day, Sergio Vasquez, Mauricio Borba and Ricky Johnson could see enough daylight to take a shot, their efforts lacked accuracy or bounced off defenders or the posts.

The subbing will be rare in the cup finals

“I fiddled a bit with the line up, but I wanted all our men to get a touch as the subbing will be rare in the cup finals. Even without the three points this evening, we are the champions and played like it, manly and not hiding,” said Bel-Ami.

Asked what he thought about Xcel's strategy, Bel-Ami said, “Give them credit. Their chock-a-block strategy worked. Our failure to score early complicated things.”

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XCEL PLAYS ONE MAN DOWN FOR MOST OF THE GAME

By Matt Keddington, Xcel Manager

< mattkeddington@hotmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >

"You seem to have forgotten to mention that Xcel received a red card after 15 minutes of play and played the rest of the game down a player. But I guess you are not into reporting all of the facts. Only the ones that benefit your writing."

Sorry, Matt. We should have mentioned that  very important fact.  We apologize.

P.d'E.

OM TOPS PARK CITY NEWPARK IN EXCITING CLASSICO

Olympique Montreux, 4
Park City Newpark, 2

By Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

PARK CITY, UT. (October 7, 2006).--Tiger Fitzpatrick scored a goal in the second minute to help Olympique Montreux beat Park City Newpark in a pulsating league game this evening.

The Olympian midfielder capped an impressive sequence by taking a hard ground shot that found the back of the net to the surprise of the Snowmen's defense and the keeper.

Undaunted, the Snowmen quickly regrouped behind the leadership of their talisman player Liam Hanafer who created the equalizer merely four minutes after Tiger's goal.

Pedaling backward

The Olympians nearly reclaimed the lead in the 10th minute when Tiger made an excellent pass to Jesse Day who dished the ball to Nate Murphy whose shot missed just wide.

Knowing that a victory or even a tie would guarantee the Olympians their second Premiership title in successive years, Park City was determined to make sure OM would not celebrate in its stadium. To keep the ball from the Olympians' lethal midfield, they smartly played long and high balls from the defense to their speedy forwards.

For several minutes, OM was clearly disorganized and the defense was pedaling backward trying to impede the recurring raids of Liam and company. Keeper Aaron Bruderer was tested often.

Park City's strategy paid off handsomely when they took the lead in the 19th minute. A long ball got passed John McQuarrie and with Jake Cavanaugh slow coming back in support, a Park City player found himself inside the box with just Aaron to beat. He made sure to score with a ground shot to the far corner of the net. The puddle of water and mud in front of goal was no help to the desperately diving Aaron.

Regaining control of the middle

The Snowmen continued to pressure Paul Williams and the rest of the defense as the first half wore on. The Olympians tried to reorganize to slowdown the game and plug up the holes.

Tiger and Ken Barton did just that. With Ken standing as a Claude Makelele in front of the defense, and Tiger slashing through the Snowmen's midfield and making timely passes to the sides, the Snowmen's compact defense opened up just enough for league leading scorer Sergio Vasquez to score his 20th goal of the season.

The marksman benefited from a well-timed Tiger pass in the 35th minute, controlled the ball, outpaced his marker and hit it past the keeper from just outside the penalty area.

The Olympians' midfielders and wingers took the controls for good after Sergio's goal. They were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute. Jeremy Jones coolly converted it to make the score 3-2 at the half.

The Olympians returned to the field for the second half understanding that the forwards had to pressure Park City's back line to derail the accurate long passes. 

The strategy seemed to work as a hurried Park City began to commit turnovers while the Olympians reverted to their trademark quick passing.

In the 54th minute, Mauricio Borba escaped his marker, but shot wide. Three minutes later, he again misled the defense. His bending shot from the left hit the far post with the keeper clearly beaten.

The Snowmen could not find much time to get into a rhythm.

In the 62nd minute, Jake got a great pass through the middle from Jeremy. He went straight in and buried a big shot into the net with beautiful definition. OM was up 4-2.

Park City tried to come back. Liam had a good shot that hit the post in the 77th minute. Aaron was called upon to make a full stretch dive to barely tip the ball out in the 86th.

“That kind of attitude clearly spoils it for me.”

With about two or three minutes to go and the game virtually won, and the Park City defenders playing very physical, thinking ahead to the cup games and wanting to avoid unnecessary injury, Bel-Ami started pulling out some players. One in particular outwardly expressed his disgust for the manager.

“That kind of attitude clearly spoils it for me. There was cause to celebrate before that excessive response to being substituted with the game all but over and the three points in the bag,” said a clearly humiliated Bel-Ami.

“I am here on the sidelines in the cold weather suffering from a very bad cold and a high fever, doing my best to help manage the team, only to be disrespected. That is neither the Olympian attitude, nor a way to react upon winning a championship after a very successful campaign.”

Bel-Ami looked a lonely figure in the cold weather as he picked up the trash left behind after the players had departed.

TEN MEN UNITED BOSNIA BEATS MISFIRING PARK CITY

PARK CITY STILL CAN WIN THE PREMIERSHIP TITLE

By Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

SUGARHOUSE, UT. (Sept. 30).--Olympique Montreux needs only one point in its next two games to claim the Premiership title after ten men United Bosnia nips Park City 1-0 this evening at Chris Dorich Stadium on the campus of Westminster College.

Playing with only ten men for 40 minutes in the second half and being dominated almost completely, United suddenly springed up behind the masterful play of its Mexican play maker Ari Gonzales to upset second place Park City.

The Snowmen are left to rue a smorgasbord of chances its strikers, namely Matt Smith and the usually reliable Liam Hanafer should have put away.

It just was not Park City's evening. In the 12th minute, Matt had a good look at goal, but unluckily sent the ball over the bar. In the 25th, Liam let loose a powerful shot, but United's keeper Emir Topalavic  in outstanding form collected the British marksman's effort from twenty yards out.

Other Park City players had good opportunities, but they either squandered their chances or United's defense, marshaled by the very tall and talented Hussein "Bucko" Topalovic foiled the Snowmen's attempts.

The score remained 0-0 at the half.

Park City returned for the second half determined to slay the Red Tigers of United Bosnia. They relied on their trademark rapid long balls from the back to opposite sides of the field with their wingers galloping to the ball and making service to the middle or trying to take it in solo.

Frustrated after a hard foul five minutes into the half, a United player complained for too long. With the fans baying for a red card, the referee harshly obliged.

Reduced to ten men, Bosnia United practically parked a tall bus in front of goal for about fifteen minutes to the utter impatience of Park City who sent men forward in droves and bad shots over and wide.

The Red Tigers held on. In the 67th minute, number 7 Ari started showing why he is one of the best playmakers in Utah. Taking the game to the Snowmen, his subtle runs and great passing caused the lone goal in the 81st minute.

Receiving the ball in his own area, Ari dribbled past nearly the entire Park City midfield, shaked off his markers and dished the ball to his onrushing right winger who blasted it into the Snowmen's net.

After the goal, Park City committed more men up front to seek the equalizer, which did not come despite an extended injury period.

"We will be loaded to bear!"

With Olympique Montreux having taken all three points from non-performing Pan World FC earlier in the day, the side now has 48 points on 18 games with two to go. Park City, its closest rival, has 39 points after 17 games.

The stage is set for a show down in Park City next Saturday when the Olympians visit the Snowmen at the North Pole Cathedral, the nickname of the Snowmen's stadium. The Olympians cannot forget that Park City is the only team to have beaten them in regulation play since December 2004. 

“We will be loaded to bear,” declared forward Josh Kimball. “We are still hungry for wins to certify our pedigree.” Indeed the star striker who has raised his game to a high level aims to continue his prolific scoring next week in Park City.

Better beware...

Mathematically, Park City still can take the trophy from under OM's feet if it beats the Olympians and manage to get maximum points from its three remaining games.

Indeed if the Snowmen can get all nine points from their next fixtures and OM loses both its last matches, the sides will finish even on points.  Then, that unfortunate loss to Park City last May will come into account.

Olympians beware!

TIGER--RRRRRRRRRRRRRRIFIC

Olympique Montreux, 7
Salt Lake SC, 0

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

WEST JORDAN CITY, UT (September 14, 2006).--Olympique Montreux qualifies for the final of the Utah Open Cup in perfect style by hitting seven goals past an aggressive Salt Lake SC. Kick off was delayed thirty minutes because of a torrential rain with lightning.

Perfect start for Tiger Fitzpatrick

With several talented Utah players on Salt Lake's roster, including midfield ace Dallas Albretsen, OM knew their opponents were a side that deserved plenty of respect. However, it took just five minutes for Tiger to break the deadlock.

It was textbook stuff, with Kenny Barton deftly laying the ball from the by-line towards Tracy McGuire who made it look easy as he flicked it to Tiger to slam dunk a low, hard shot into the back of the net at the fifth minute.

The first goal ripped the confidence out of Salt Lake FC, and within minutes Jesse Day sent the ball home brilliantly to make to make the score 2-0. Seconds later, Tiger provided Sergio Vasquez with a chance that went narrowly wide of the far post.

OM was in total control, with the only danger perhaps being their over-confidence. The early goals, having lulled them into a false sense of security, almost cost the side when Salt Lake played a long ball to a speedy forward.  Keeper Chad Evans had to leave his line to prevent disaster.

In addition to that trek into OM's nerve center, because the players of Salt Lake did not seem at all intimidated in the face of such a storied OM football club featuring the colossal profile of a legend like Todd Miller, they managed to create a few, if timid, chances of their own. These included a serious warning call from Dallas, a former OM player, at the 16th minute, and a dangerous team move that gave Bel-Ami a cold chill as it took place while the Olympians appeared to have relaxed their imperative.

Here comes Kimball

Josh Kimball does not like to wait to get in games. He has a celestial gift to predict when Tracy is tired or if Chad Gilbert will be limping in a minute, or if Sergio, or if Jesse, or if keeper Evans, or...  and… or…

As the half grew older, he became increasingly animated. In he went for Tracy on the right wing in the 25th minute, and sure enough, he scores on great Jesse pass three minutes later. It was with lighting speed that a fully fit Jesse ran past two defenders and served the ball to Kimball who one-timed it into the net.

A peripatetic Miller

With the Olympians actually doing what they practice under the leadership of a very mobile Miller and continuous admonitions from Paul Williams, there were only sparse chances for Salt Lake SC to get a touch of the ball. 

But if the floodgates in the skies had closed for the evening, they were about to open wide on the pitch. OM had a three-goal cushion to take into the break, and despite their strong physical presence, we had seen little to suggest that Salt Lake was going to be capable of turning the game around in the second half.

Borba-dement of skills and goals

The second half got off to as perfect a start as the first. Just three minutes after the break, Tiger sent a curling free kick low towards Vasquez. The forward trapped the ball well, but slipped and lost it when he turned around to shoot.

In the 48th minute, Mauricio Borba made a daring run at the defense, dribbled around four defenders and hammered the ball into the top of the net.

OM was up 4-0, and it was as good as game over.

In the 60th, Mauricio started a tremendous solo effort. On his own and surrounded by defenders, the Argentine juggled the ball left and right to confuse his rivals who clumsily knocked him down inside the penalty area. Kimball was in the area. He confidently grabbed the ball to take the penalty kick. He buried it in. 5-0.

Moments later, Jesse did his own magic on the right side, penetrating and scoring the 6th goal.

With the outcome decided, there was nothing left for Olympique Montreux to prove, and Salt Lake seemed to have opted to renounce to play football, but to merely defend in numbers to keep the score from worsening. The final minutes ticked by with Vasquez, Mauricio, Ricky Johnson, Everton do Prado and Tracy working especially hard to find further goalscoring opportunities, but failing to find the space to do so.

Argentine genius

But there was still time for one more piece of OM magic. Already deep into injury time, Mauricio collected the ball on the right edge of the Salt Lake area and with the Salt Lake players getting increasingly violent, he again pulled one from his Zidane bag of tricks and ended up face to face with just the keeper and the large net. He put it in. 7-0

It was an unstoppable finish and the mark of a genius. The Olympians have been amazing in the Utah Open Cup campaign. On the strength of their performance this week, one can expect thrilling things to come in the final on October 24 against Bosnia USA.

OM BEATS RAGING YETIS, QUALIFIES FOR OPEN CUP SEMIFINAL

Olympique Montreux, 9
Raging Yetis, 0

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

WEST JORDAN, UT. (Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006).-Mauricio Borba starred in an emphatic victory as Raging Yetis was swept aside by a crusading Olympique Montreux team in superb form at this crucial point in the season.

OM dominated from the start in a one-sided first half. The pace and power of Ricky Johnson, coupled with the cunning and finesse of Tiger Fitzpatrick and Kenny Barton effectively killed the game off in the early minutes.

With Mike Rogers giving a near-perfect performance, the absent Todd Miller was not missed and Bel-Ami's team will be brimming with confidence ahead of Thursday's Utah Open Cup semifinal and Saturday’s clash with Bosnia United.

Miller rested

Nobody was surprised that Todd took a break and that Bel-Ami lined up MR at the heart of the defense with the equally fearsome General JT Cracroft alongside him. The recently bald GeneralC racroft had a fantastic first half. With Kenny and Tiger providing midfield steel in front of the back four, the Olympians were rarely troubled defensively.

This game was Ricky’s first start of the season having been in impressive form lately.

Teamwork pays off

OM got off to a perfect start. In the 12th minute, Ricky opened the scoring, completing a stunning team effort. Chad Gilbert combined well with Tiger and Kenny outside the penalty area before presenting the ball on a tray to iron man Johnson who slotted home. The dummy run of Sergio Vasquez was crucial in helping pull the defense apart. Sergio was at his marauding best in the first half. Jesse Day was on fire early on, serving golden crosses upon golden crosses.

In the 20th minute, the Olympians went a gear higher. In the 24th Kenny almost finished a fine move from Tiger, and two minutes later Ricky scored again when JT’s laser-sharp pass forced a defensive error.

The Olympians came back in the second half with mayhem in mind.

In the 47th minute, Everton do Prado kicked over the bar.  Tracy McGuire came close as well barely one minute after.  Eight minutes later, Nate Murphy forced the keeper into an acrobatic dive to save what looked like a sure goal.

In the 60th minute, Mauricio set up Chad who coolly nutmegged the goalkeeper to the delight of Bel-Ami and the fans.

Five minutes later, Jesse caused an own goal as the keeper spilled his powerful shot and a hurried defender booted into his own net. In the 69th minute, Mauricio did a Zidane with the defenders and scored a sweet little goal.

Not be outdone, Sergio made sure to tally on a golden pass from Tiger. Mauricio closed the scoring with a penalty kick in the 80th minute.

Thereafter, the Olympians served a lesson in ball control. With the game won, OM kept Raging Yetis at arms’ length while still creating some thrilling football.

If the first half was all about Ricky Johnson, the last twenty minutes was about the “Boss,” Paul Williams. The veteran center back was a rock at the heart of the defense and, with Jeremy Jones and John McQuarrie looking equally solid, the defensive performance was solid.

In the closing stages, with one eye on the Open Cup quarterfinal in two days, and the much-anticipated Bosnia United derby on Saturday, Bel-Ami made the most of the opportunity to rest some tired legs and give some important minutes to other players.

RAMPAGING OLYMPIANS DOMINATE UTAH FC IN LEAGUE GAME

Pierre d'Estaim

Sports Writer

Olympique Montreux, 7
Utah FC, 0

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OM has scored 71 goals and conceded only 11 in all competitions since April 21.

Leading Scorers:    

Sergio Vasquez, 19 goals

Rick Johnson, 11 goals

Chad Gilbert, 9 goals

Nate Murphy, 6 goals

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WEST SALT LAKE, Utah, Sept 9, 2006. (LNS). - Rick Johnson scored a treble to help Olympique Montreux beat visiting Utah FC 7-0 in league play at Riverside Park Saturday evening.

Nate Murphy scored a brace. Chad Gilbert and Mauricio Borba each added one goal to help the team maintain first place in the Premiership.

Utah FC started the Game with confidence, repeatedly entering the area to force keeper Aaron Bruderer into full dives to protect his net.

The second coming of Rick Johnson

Powered by the incredible pace of their number 10 Brazilian forward operating on the left wing, the Utes, as the side from the University of Utah is also known, showed they wanted to avoid a repeat of the 5-1 shellacking Todd Miller & Co. gave them a fortnight ago in Utah Open Cup action.

In the 23rd minute, Sergio Vasquez took advantage of one of the Utes' full press attack to win the ball from an opponent's feet. He then made a long blind pass up front. Gilbert latched on to the ball, skipped past the keeper and gently placed it in the empty net.

Then came Johnson off the bench just like last Thursday. For a player who was added to the roster barely minutes before game time, Johnson made an instant impact upon coming on the field in the 30th minute to score with his first touch.

In obviously impressive form, Johnson went on a rampage, running straight at Utah FC's defense times and times again. In the 40th minute, he rammed in a powerful kick after receiving a pass from Ken Barton.

The forward could have made it a hat-trick two minutes later, but his diving header narrowly missed.

An impressive defensive record

Three minutes after the break, Murphy took a pass from Chad Gilbert and scored. The midfielder tallied again the 50th minute after dribbling past the defense.

Johnson finally got his third goal on a penalty (74th minute). Mauricio Borba closed the scoring with the seventh goal of the evening (85th minute). 

With the ball really tired from all the bouncing, kicking, heading, dribbling and goals, the referees blew the final whistle in the 93rd minute, 

“RJ is an unbelievable striker. His importance to the side cannot be denied,” Bel-Ami said of Johnson after the game. "He is relentless and unselfish. He does not care if he starts or not, he just makes the most of each opportunity he gets.”

It is worth to mention that Olympique Montreux has scored an astonishing 71 goals so far in all competitions and conceded only 11. "The offense, defense and our keepers must be credited for such a high achievement," also said Bel-Ami.

GAMES AND RESULTS

Friday, April 21, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 3 -- Odyssey Web, 0

Wednesday, April 26, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 8 -- ZLC, 2

Saturday, April 29, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 3 - American Ninjas, 0

Saturday, May 6, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 7 -- Bosnia United, 0

Wednesday, May 10, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 1 -- Team Excel, 0

Saturday, May 13, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 4 -- Bosnia USA, 0

Tuesday, May 16, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 1 -- Lazio, 1

Saturday, June 3, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 3 -- Utah FC, 1

Saturday, June 10, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 3 -- Salt Lake SC, 0

Thursday, June 22, 2006, Park City Newpark, 1-- Olympique Montreux, 0

Saturday, June 26, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 5, Bosnia USA, 0

Saturday, August 5, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 1 -- ZLC, 0 (forfeit)

Tuesday, August 8, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 5 -- Team Xcel, 0

Saturday, August 12, Olympique Montreux, 1 -- Pan World, 0 (forfeit)

Wednesday, August 16, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 2, Lazio, 2

Saturday, August 19, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 8 --Odyssey Web, 0

Tuesday, August 22, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 5 -- Utah FC, 1

Thursday, September 7, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 5 -- Red Star, 0

Saturday, September 9, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 7 -- Utah FC, 0

NB. Not counting two forfeit wins, the side has scored 71 goals in regulation play.  The victory over Utah Mix on April 29, 2006 is posted on the league's website as a victory over American Ninjas.

PEDESTRIAN OLYMPIANS CRANK IT UP LATE TO BEAT RED STAR

Olympique Montreux, 5
Red Star, 0

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

WEST SALT LAKE, Utah. Sept. 7, 2006. (LNS). - With his two sons, two months old Karson and big brother Kobie, in attendance, proud papa Sergio Vasquez and iron man Ricky Johnson came off the bench in the last quarter of the first half to spark the offense after the Olympians squandered many chances to emphasize their class and demoralize First Division side Red Star in a Utah Open Cup game at Riverside Park on Thursday night.

Although they condemned Red Star to just defend in its own half of the pitch for long stretches of time, the Olympians just could not find the target, firing blanks over and wide.

A smorgasbord of missed chances

The Olympians could not convert their dominion of the ball into goals.  They appeared to want to walk it easy. Everton do Prado had the first chance to open the score in the third minute. With the net wide open, the unlucky Brazilian shot wide when an easy tap-in would suffice.

This was followed by a succession of glaring misses. In the 8th minute, winger Jesse Day shot over the bar. Two minutes later, forward Chad Gilbert missed a good opportunity.  In the 13th minute, winger Jake Cavanaugh slashed through the defense, but the keeper easily collected his effort.

In the 17th and 20th minute, Josh Kimball had two good looks, but he kicked in the keeper's waiting hands. In the 21st minute, a Barton strike sailed away. Murphy took a good shot in the 25th, but the omnipresent Red Star keeper made a fabulous save.

With half time fast approaching, it seemed like the first division team would weather the storm. In the 29th minute, a Red Star forward sent a speculative strike well behind keeper Chad Evans.  The ball teasingly glided over the bar to the relief of Evans.

Send in the surgical crew

Vasquez, Ricky Johnson and Tracy McGuire subbed in in the 30th minute and went straight for the juggernaut. Vasquez scored with his first touch when the goalie spilled a hard Murphy shot at the 33rd minute. The striker pounced on the rebound and sent the ball into the net. Three minutes later, he was at it again, scoring with a curving shot from just outside the penalty box.

Vasquez created the second goal when he controlled a pass from Barton to place the ball in the path of Johnson who could not miss in the 42nd minute.

Better late than never

The Olympians went back on the field for the second half determined to show why they are the league's putative top players and top team.

At the hour mark, Mike Rogers headed the ball to Day who in turn headed it in the net. To make the score 4-0.

Defender Paul Williams volleyed in a Day corner kick in the 67th minute to close the scoring.

Red Star worked hard for a consolation goal, but John McQuarrie and his fellow defenders would have none of that.

With this win, OM is qualified for the quaterfinals round of the Utah Open Cup and will face giant killer Raging Yetis next Tuesday. Raging Yetis, another First Division team, has been a raging machine, having so far downed two Premiership giants, Odyssey Web and Bosnia United, in Open Cup play. Will the Olympians be able to contain them?

OLYMPIANS ON COURSE TO WIN THREE THROPHIES THIS SEASON

Daynes Challenge Cup, Utah Open Cup and League Title up for Grab

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

Holladay, UT (Sunday, Sept. 3)--With its place already booked for the Daynes Challenge Cup final on October 21, Olympique Montreux is on the right track to win, not two, but three trophies this season.

Latest information suggests that Park City, whom the Olympians defeated 3-0 last year to win the centennial game of the Daynes Challenge Cup may again be their challenger for Utah's oldest and most prestigious award.

Lazio, a team that does not feature in the cups races, has played all its league games on an accelerated schedule and leads in the standings by only one point according to the league's latest posting on its web site, www.utahsoccer.com.

League officials have yet to credit OM for a forfeit win over ZLC on August 5 when it was announced that ZLC could not make the fixture for lack of personnel and that the game would not be rescheduled. Likewise, the table does not yet count Park City's loss to Bosnia USA on August 19.

With Lazio gone, the remaining teams still must play six league games before the end of the season. If OM and its old nemesis Park City maintain their current form going down the stretch, it appears that the league title will be a dead heat between them.

The Snowmen defeated the Olympians 1-0 in the first part of the season to take the lead by two points. However, their dropping all three points to a resurgent Bosnia USA on August 19 should have them trailing the Olympians by one point.  In the meantime, OM has been in devastating form, winning all its league, Daynes and Utah Open Cup games.

The side will face Red Star at Riverside on August 7 for an Open Cup game. If successful, it will go on to play in the competition's quarterfinals on September 12. Semifinal games are set for September 14 and the final will be held on October 28, a week after the Daynes Challenge Cup final.

“Winning the treble would be a fitting tribute to our older players who have given so much to the side," said Bel-Ami, OM's manager. “We have had some crisis this season and lost some important players. But we are moving on.”

Indeed, in the past month, Arthur van Wagenen, his brother Hugh and Mike Polich left the team for various technical and personal reasons. The side released Kyle Copeland and Matt Smith and brought in reinforcement when it acquired former Real Salt Lake and Trinidad international Leslie Tiger Fitzpatrick for the remainder of the season.

OM also signed Mauricio Borba, a gifted Argentine striker and Brazilian attacking midfielder Everton do Prado. However, it could not to bring either Brian Alba or Brian Dunseth to shore up the defense. An important target, exciting left-winger Louis Staley had already committed to another organization.

Disclaimer: All representations in this article are those of the author. Please consult the league's web site, www.utahsoccer.com, or contact the league's president for accurate standing, scheduling information and league policy.