When Opportunity Knocks, Answer
In the ECNL Boys U18/19 National Championship Semifinal match between Legends FC and Kansas Rush, it was all about making the most of your opportunities. Legends reached this point from timely goals throughout their playoff run, while Kansas Rush had overwhelmed their opponents with a 10-2 goal differential. Monday morning at Surf Sports Park in San Diego, the two sides met in a clash of playing styles to determine who would reach the National Championship Match.
From the opening whistle, Kansas Rush pushed Legends FC back on their heels with a high press, quick passing and putting crosses into the box. Rush was able to build up scoring chances in the fifth and 12th minute, but failed to come away with a tally. Then, in the 20th minute, Kansas earned their best chance of the match so far.
Kansas Rush dropped in a long ball directly to the feet of Connor Williams, who had daylight between him and the keeper. A Legends defender tracking back was right on his heels, and the two ended up tangled up, with the ball going directly to the Legends goalkeeper. He immediately pushed the ball forward, and Legends were off on a counterattack.
Legends FC pushed the ball up the field quickly, and from the left side of the pitch, Sergio Briseno knocked a shot over the goalkeeper and into the top right corner of the net, giving Legends a 1-0 lead.
Despite trailing now, Kansas Rush continued to dictate the pace of play, owning possession and putting a great deal of pressure on the Legends backline. Routinely Kansas Rush earned scoring chances, crossing the ball into the box from either sideline, but every time, the ball stayed out of the net. In the 35th minute, Kansas Rush had two crosses back to back that went right across the goalmouth, but neither time could the club find the finishing touch.
After a clear from inside the 18-yard box, Legends forward Jivan Olazaba received the ball at his feet with a 1-on-1 opportunity. He beat his defender, went in on the goalkeeper alone and chipped a shot on net. The Kansas Rush goalkeeper made the initial stop, but the rebound came behind him, where Olazaba corralled the loose ball and buried his shot into the open net for the 2-0 lead, which Legends held into halftime.
Coming out of halftime, Legends had a clear directive: maintain possession, slow the game down, and be methodical in everything the team did. For the following 45 minutes, that plan was executed with precision.
After a first half where Kansas Rush had more of the scoring chances and much of the possession, Legends made sure to keep the ball and play out of the back. As the half wore on, Kansas Rush continued to get frustrated with their inability to generate scoring chances as they did in the first half. When Kansas Rush attempted to play the ball in from the wings, Legends was there to clear any scoring chance, and when they tried to be more direct, they were met with a compact midfield and backline, making any scoring opportunity difficult.
Legends displayed clinical defensive tactics, and at the end of 90 minutes, the club had booked their spot in the ECNL Boys U18/19 National Championship Match.
A Texas-Sized Win
Following a highly emotional victory against the reigning champions in the quarterfinals, Solar SC Academy faced off against fellow Texas Conference foe Tulsa SC, a club that have needed PKs to advance twice and have played in tight contests throughout the ECNL Boys U18/19 National Playoffs.
During the first 10 minutes of the match, it was much of Solar SC Academy in their attacking third, working to break down the Tulsa SC defense. But in their first scoring chance of the match, Tulsa SC captialized to take a 1-0 lead. Fresh off a save from their goalkeeper, Tulsa S worked the ball forward, eventually leading to midfielder Nicholas Reichard taking a shot above the box. His shot was just enough for it to go past the diving goalkeeper's hand and into the net for the tally.
Both sides traded chances for much of the second half, playing a decidedly back and forth affair, but neither side was able to find the back of the net and Tulsa SC ended the first 45 minutes ahead 1-0.
Early in the second half, Tulsa SC took a 2-0 lead. With the ball bouncing around in the box, it found its way to midfielder Graham Condley. He turned toward net and ripped a shot, beating the goalkeeper to double Tulsa's lead.
Now facing a multi-goal deficit, Solar SC started to put more and more pressure on Tulsa SC's defense. The club started getting more scoring opportunites, but every chance was negated by Tulsa's defense.
As the match headed to stoppage time, Solar SC Academy was finally able to break through when midfielder Owen Faris headed in a service off a free kick, pulling his club within one. The team was desperate to find another for an equalizer, putting every available player forward, but Tulsa SC stood strong and punched their ticket into the national championship match.
North American Cup Championship Match
LV Heat Surf vs. FC Dallas Red
North American Cup Semifinal Scores
LV Heat Surf defeats VDA 3-2
FC Dallas defeats Rockford Raptors 1-1(4-3)
U14 Group Winners
Group A: LAFC So Cal
Group B: Real Colorado Academy
Group C: Oklahoma Energy FC
Group D: Sporting Jax
Group E: United PDX
Group F: XF Academy
Group G: Fort Lauderdale United FC
Group H: Richmond United
Group I: Penn Fusion SA
Group J: Delaware FC
Group K: Charlotte SA Academy
Group L: NCFC Youth Academy
Group M: NTH-NASA
Group N: Concorde Fire Platinum
Group O: VDA
Group P&Q: CESA Triumph
U13 Group Winners
Group A: Seattle United
Group B: Fort Lauderdale United FC
Group C: Sporting California USA
Group D: XF Academy
Group E: FC Dallas Red
Group F: Legends FC
Group G: SDSC Surf
Group H: San Diego Surf
Group I: Columbia Premier SC
Group J: FC Wichita
Group K: NTH-NASA
Group L: Oklahoma Energy FC
Wild Card 1: St. Croix
Wild Card 2: Tennessee SC
Wild Card 3: Charlotte SA Academy
Wild Card 4: Florida Kraze Krush
For a full look at the ECNL Boys National Playoffs, including scores, schedules and more, click here.
