One of the most memorable comments that I have heard during the 2008-2009 WCWFC winter session was from Friday night regular Kyle Mc Tigue. In an earlier post, he mentioned, “I realize how much fun it is to be a soccer player again, thanks to WCWFC.” These words rang true this past Tuesday at the Rauner Family YMCA as the Tuesday Night Titans met for another great tournament.
Slowly we are all getting the hang of things on Tuesdays. To all players, there is a parking lot behind the facility! As you enter you will notice that there is a service drive that goes around the facility. Follow the service drive and you will find another large parking area. Enough logistics, let’s talk football. The tournament would evolve into a series of well played matches between each of the four teams.
The first match of the evening was between Team Orange and Team Red. Team Orange is an off-shoot of Friday nights Limey Orange Sherbert that lately has had a bit more success on Tuesday than their partners on Friday. Team Red took the field with an intimidating combination of ex-pats from the U.K that resembled the reserve squad from Liverpool. Team Orange was mixture of new players along with WCWFC regulars Aaron Kanfer and Neil V. Cruz.
Throughout the evening, Orange took advantage of second chances, rebounds and miscues by defenders and goalkeepers. The formula was simple, fluid passing, constant communication and consistently seeking the open player. After a well played opening match, Team Orange took the win by a score of 2-1.
Game two pitted Team Green against last week’s tournament champions Team Skins. The same Skins who last week did away with the “Green Street Hooligans” in the final round. Anchored once again by regulars Tony Rodriguez, Daniel De Gyves, Kohtaro Ooka, and Juanito Villarroel, the Skins opened competition with a 3-1 win. Green featured Shannon Rosine, Dan Booker and defensive standout Raul Campos.
The first surprise of the evening came from Team Orange in their first round match up against Skins. The Skins followed their traditional formula, a good clearance from the defense to Villarroel in the midfield. Villarroel then finds De Gyves who slices through his defender to have a shot on goal. Add to that combination, last minute transfer from Team Olympiakos; Hilel Ehrman whose blistering right foot finds ways to score from anywhere on the field.
Leading 2-1 with two minutes remaining, Orange was able to equalize after a goal from Amer Aldeen who sneaked a shot pass goalkeeper Rafhael Moreno. In what seemed to be evolving into a draw, Orange did the improbable scoring with thirty seconds remaining to seal the game for Orange by a score of 3-2.
Things continued moving in a Clockwork Orange, as after trailing by a score of 1-0 to the Greens, Orange scored two goals to end the tournament undefeated by a score of 2-1. This score set up a final showdown between Skins and Orange to determine who would be the Tuesday Night Titan…
Before that third place glory would be contested between Team Green and the Redcoats of Team Red… Team Red was by no means a scrappy League Two squad the likes of Shrewsbury Town or Grimsby Town. They were more like …….if you English football fans may indulge me, like Leeds United when it began its fall from premiership glory… Flashes of brilliance but lapses in their defense led to a Green victory of 4-1… As Red began the immediate process of firing its coach and seeking the monetary assistance of the Abu Dhabi Emirates, a championship final needed to be played.
Any time you play against Juanito “The Andean Giant” Villaroel and Daniel Messi De Gyves you are most likely going to give up some goals. This combination can score. It truly can be the irresistible force and the immovable object when they are clicking. Add the steady play of Tony Rodriguez, the reliable Christopher Booker, newcomer Manny Blanco and the goalkeeping abilities of Rafhael Moreno and the Skins seemed to have it all.
The game evolved into a defensive struggle for the first ten minutes with neither team having many chances on goal. Juanito’s shots sailed harmlessly over the net and Messi De Gyves was frustrated by the staunch defense of Aaron Kanfer and Fred DeBruyn Rubio. Aided by the defensive stalwart Pasha, Orange contained the scoring for most of the game. Orange scoring threats were delivered by Ameer, David “St. Pauli” Hilkes and the rest of the squad.
The clearest scoring chance came from the Skins who due to a defensive miscue deflected a ball away from goalkeeper Neil Cruz and left it at the feet of Hugo Navas. Navas’ shot bounced off the legs of the goalkeeper and back into play. Rafhael Moreno commented to his teammate, “dude you had time to make a sandwich, sit, eat and make me a sandwich too.. Arggghhhh” (direct quote)
As coordinator Matt Rosine, counted down one minute, the pace intensified. Juanito Villarroel broke free from his defender and tried to blast a shot in from the corner but was denied by the keeper.. Orange took desperation long range shot that flew harmlessly away from Moreno’s net… As the whistle blew, we had a first. Team Orange 0- Team Skins 0… A scoreless draw…
Congratulations to everyone that participated in this memorable match, unfortunately due to time constraints a winner could not be determined, but it still does not take away from the incredible effort and a memorable game…
The Titans will clash again next week at the YMCA for what should be another great night of football. In the meantime Matt Rosine will review the validity of Team Reds transfer request for Liverpool striker Steven Gerrard to bolster their ranks for the next game. Will Rosine invoke his WCWFC morality clause and not allow any thugs from the city of Liverpool join the ranks??? Have a good week everyone and see you at the Y next week…
Neil V. Cruz
