SSFAC played a character building match this week as they battled 2 time defending champion Santa Clara Sporting. The team took the field with only 9 players as many of the squad were unavailable due to injuries or travel. the team decided to play a very defensive minded game to try and keep Sporting from generating any significant attack. It worked for the most part as Sporting wasn't able to score until the 36 minute of play. South City continued there determined play and had opportunities on the Sporting goal. Early into the second half SSF was able to add another player to bring it to ten, and they tried to put pressure on Sporting in an attempt to equalize. Eventually, Santa Clara wore down the shorthanded group and got the deciding goal in the 72nd minute to finish off the game at 2-0. The 10 players for SSF gave everything they had, and played an exceptional match. Goalkeeper Adrian Monroy was brilliant as he turned away numerous shots. He pushed one attempt over the bar to save a goal and also stopped several point blank shots. The defensive trio of Keith Henwood, Stephen Shaw Smith, and Reuben Wartens, did an amazing job of blocking shots, clogging the passing lanes and taking away any open space that Sporting tried to play through. The midfield core of Blair Smith, Leo Monteiro, Adam Dhanens, Roberto Monteiro, Andrew Crowe & Scott Ellis, played a very strong game as they limited the attack from Sporting. They slowed the tempo of the game down, looked for the counter attack when it was present and did all they could to push Sporting away from the SSF goal area. The team did itself proud as they played one of their most inspiring games of the year to give the champs a battle they won't soon forget
SSFAC played a character building match this week as they battled 2 time defending champion Santa Clara Sporting. The team took the field with only 9 players as many of the squad were unavailable due to injuries or travel. the team decided to play a very defensive minded game to try and keep Sporting from generating any significant attack. It worked for the most part as Sporting wasn't able to score until the 36 minute of play. South City continued there determined play and had opportunities on the Sporting goal. Early into the second half SSF was able to add another player to bring it to ten, and they tried to put pressure on Sporting in an attempt to equalize. Eventually, Santa Clara wore down the shorthanded group and got the deciding goal in the 72nd minute to finish off the game at 2-0. The 10 players for SSF gave everything they had, and played an exceptional match. Goalkeeper Adrian Monroy was brilliant as he turned away numerous shots. He pushed one attempt over the bar to save a goal and also stopped several point blank shots. The defensive trio of Keith Henwood, Stephen Shaw Smith, and Reuben Wartens, did an amazing job of blocking shots, clogging the passing lanes and taking away any open space that Sporting tried to play through. The midfield core of Blair Smith, Leo Monteiro, Adam Dhanens, Roberto Monteiro, Andrew Crowe & Scott Ellis, played a very strong game as they limited the attack from Sporting. They slowed the tempo of the game down, looked for the counter attack when it was present and did all they could to push Sporting away from the SSF goal area. The team did itself proud as they played one of their most inspiring games of the year to give the champs a battle they won't soon forget