Barcelona vs. Mallorca
Perennial bridesmaids Mallorca and Barcelona faced off Sunday in a Major 10 match that lived up to expectations. Each team was short-handed for the game, fielding just 10 players aside.
Mallorca center-forward Dario Flores pressured goaltender Michael Shorris early and often, weaving his way through the Barcelona defense to appreciative “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd. Just minutes in, Dario stole the ball at midfield and worked his way patiently through the Barcelona defense. He spun past the last defender only to find Shorris in his path. Dario’s shot sizzled just over the crossbar.
After Dario’s next scoring attempt, rookie Barcelona fullback Jasmine Campise secured the rebound and sent the ball ahead to middie Eve Grassfield. Despite playing with an injured ankle and wrist, Grassfield turned in a stellar performance, connecting repeatedly with winger Chloe Lombardi to create scoring chances. Mallorca goaltender Mateo Flores was up to the challenge.
In a fine example of seeing the field, Lombardi found center-forward Bryan Gomez sprinting up from behind. Gomez beat one man but was stymied by defender Delia Costello. Racing in from the right side, Barcelona winger Nigel Epps got off a sliding shot, which was blocked by striker Otis Hatfield as he rushed back on defense. Out of the ensuing scramble came Barcelona’s Aidan Rogers, who sent a shot spinning toward the left corner. Flores scooped it up and found Mallorca midfielder Uriah Frederick for the clear. Fredericks found Theo Simko, who played give-and-go with Fredericks through the midfield before hitting a streaking Dario, whose seemingly sure goal was blocked at the last second by fullback Hunter Wolf.
The game featured hardnosed play throughout. Barcelona midfielders Mazzy Leinbach, Rocket Farah, Henry Lilien, Rogers, and Grassfield all raced tirelessly from offense to defense, going toe to toe with Mallorca’s Liam Barwick, Frederick, Hatfield and Simko. In the end, the hard-fought scoreless draw inspired more high-fiving smiles than sister-kissing glares.
