Real Madrid vs. Valencia
Valencia controlled the pace early in a Downtown Soccer League Major 10 rain makeup game Monday. Felix Parker filled in well at right back and stopped Valencia’s first of several offensive runs. Simon Curtis-Ginsberg had a great save and a couple other shots were wide of the mark. But then Fischer Bodwell and Brandon Mirabella started to dominate in center midfield and the Real Madrid backs Grace Bristol, Deejai Riangkrul and Sophie Stoch closed the back door. Curtis-Ginsbergs’ long throws from the goal coupled with Porcaro, Dilworth and Parker’s speed up front surprised Valencia and spread the game over the full field. Midfielders Sam Liberman and Clyde Huibregtse were able to scoop up loose balls and send them long down the field to Madrid’s breaking strikers. By the end of the half, Real Madrid trailed Valencia by only one — a corner kick that had settled for a little too long in front of the goal and was pounded home by Niall Gallagher.
In the second half R.M. continued to press Valencia on their side of the field and played tough defense. Bristol had two nice stops of Jack McGreevey. The equalizer came on left-footed half volley from Ryan Porcaro into the upper left corner of the Valencia net on a strong cross from Curtis-Dilworth that skipped across the goal mouth.
Advay Sriram had a couple good aggressive stops. Huibregtse charged out of goal to foil a breakaway and upended Brody Sharoff, and Jasper Stoch marked the Valencia strikers well. Riangkrul stepped in to break up a run. Bodwell swooped in and broke up another McGreevey breakaway with a flying clear down the field. Ultimately the pressure resulted in a hand ball and a free kick from about 20 yards out. McGreevey coolly pierced the R.M. wall for the tally. Valencia won 2-1 and remains undefeated. Valencia Coach Tom Gallagher said that this was the toughest team that they had faced all year.
Real Madrid vs. Mallorca
Mallorca played their best game of the season Sunday, thanks to Nick Winokur’s power score (his first goal of the season), Dante Vega-Lamere’s fantastic ball-handling, and amazing diving saves by goalie Douglass Stapler. Real Madrid started the second half with their “two-thirds all-girl offense of Sophia Stoch and Grace Bristol. Simon Curtis-Ginsberg played well in the goal for R.M., and Brandon Mirabella played his best game all year, per coach Brad Bodwell. Clyde Huibregtse took advantage of a heaven-sent pass which bounced at his feet. After some fine dribbling and shooting, he pounded it in the goal to tie the game at one. The final score was 1-1.
Barcelona vs. Sevilla
Sevilla kept the ball in front of their goal, challenging Barcelona’s keeper Jack Vegas, for most of the first half. Elias Griffin’s great diagonal punt to James Carney in the center resulted in the first shot on goal, which went wide. Griffin, followed that up with an explosive cart-wheeling breakaway towards the goal, but Vegas made a great save. Griffin’s next play was a corner kick that landed in a sea of red, cleared by the fearsome Sader Matar. Barcelona’s Joshua Fish took control of the ball, and tore downfield towards Jacob Roter in goal. Sevilla’s Tyler Rohan sprinted from midfield and caught up to Fish, but his attempt to steal the ball and defuse the play did not prevent a shot on goal. Roter reached but could not grab the ball, and Barcelona moved ahead 1-0.
Barcelona turned the tables in the second half, dominating the offensive plays. Ben Beaumont and Vegas made several great plays for Barcelona, but Sweeper Extraordinaire Luke Marable cleared the ball each time in his best defensive game of the season. James Carney, Nicky Leong, Griffin and Roter tried to even the score, but were blocked by Barcelona’s Gabby Freid and a header by Oscar Sullivan. Barcelona clustered in front of the goal in what looked like a ping-pong match. Despite pleas from Roya Sullivan in the sideline, the ball never went in. Vegas drilled the ball between goalie Matthew Levine’s legs, but Marable saved the day again by clearing it before it went over the goal line. Barcelona was persistent, and Drew Child tried to increase the lead, but his ball was cleared by Daphne Tsapalas. Max Kong, Romy Macari, Anthony Miguez and Lumia Nocita all did their part, keeping Barcelona scoreless in the second half. For his part on Barcelona, Zach Pine prevented Sevilla from scoring on several attempts. Hailey Coffey made a great play for Barcelona, and Ruby Marzovilla, Jonah and Nico Weinstein rounded out the team, holding Sevilla scoreless for the second half as well. The Sevilla offense continued to put their head down and tried to dribble past the Barcelona defenders, but it just didn’t work for them. The final score was 1-0, Barcelona.
Valencia vs. Athletico
Valencia was 6-0 coming into the game against the formidable Athletico team Sunday. Valencia’s Jack McGreevey took control of the ball from teammate Brody Sharoff at the 10-yard line and took it completely downfield for the lead. Athletico tried to even the score with a shot on goal that bounced off the post back into play. Excellent defense by Valencia’s Yani Porter and Cameron Lamser kept the pressure off goaltender Karyna Lambert. And McGreevey’s 30-yard clears kept the action mostly near Valencia’s goal. Anna Van Patten had an exciting moment in front of the Athletico goal, persevering with her full body and soul to the delight of the fans, but couldn’t get past Valencia to score. Will Pangburn made a great attempt to even the score just before the whistle blew to end the first half.
Lukas Burger was now in goal for Valencia, and Lev Gordon took over in goal for Athletico. Graham Nelson had several nice punts for Athletico, and teammate Conrad Wurzburg often was in the middle of play. In an exciting play for Valencia, Rachael Farah passed the ball to McGreevey, who snuck it past for his second goal of the game. Shortly after that, McGreevey passed the ball from the 20-yard line, deftly sneaking it up the sideline, to hook up with a streaking Niall Gallagher just past the midfield mark. Once Gallagher was free he neatly deposited the ball into the right side of the net for Valencia’s goal three. Athletico played on, with great defense by Judah Lang, Alexander Monticciolo and Mia Potter, as well as typical skilled playing by Balthazar Merrin. Liam Fuerst and Cole Barker turned a few good plays for Valencia, and Athletico’s Kyra Russo, Meret Baumann and Julia Udell played enthusiastically. Shortly before the end of the second half, Gavin Zinzell, who had been consistently moving the ball toward the Athletico goal, made a fast breakaway and darted the ball past Burger for a sweet goal. Sharoff tried to squeeze in one last scoring attempt for Valencia, but his drive was stopped by stellar defensemen Wyatt Accardi and Nelson. The final score was Valencia 3, Athletico 1.
