Firecrackers Win in Another Close One

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16 August 2005

David Ahlgren

 The Firecrackers extended their winning streak to two games yesterday, in a strong effort.  Collectively, the team played well, passing the ball quickly, and switching sides of the field often.  The game was very fast-paced, and all players on the Firecrackers played very well on the ball.

 The scoring started about twenty minutes into the first half.  I can’t remember who played the through ball (please email me if you assisted Franco so I can add it to the stats), but newcomer Franco Benevento was able to receive a great through ball and put a nice move on the keeper.  Once past the keeper, he tapped the ball in for an easy goal.

 Also in the first half, stopper Antonio Favela was helping sweeper Brian Sturges diffuse a tense situation when he was hit in the face by a half-volley clearance.  Although he didn’t remain down for very long, his eye became swollen, and it turned out later that his contact had been knocked to the back of his eye.  Although still blurry, the eye doesn’t hurt as much today and he’ll get it checked out.

 Two ‘Crackers were also awarded yellow-cards for pretty rare foul calls.  Sean Basanese was given a yellow for a handball, not normally a yellow card infraction, and Will Race fouled La Soledad at an unfortunate time.  On Will’s yellow, the ref said it was an accumulation foul, that the Firecrackers had been fouling the La Soledads too much in too short of a time spread and he needed to calm the 'Crackers down.  Whatever.  Yellow cards don’t matter, as long as they don’t turn into red cards.  In fact, they can sometimes be seen as a reward for intense play.

 In the second half, the pace quickened.  Except for one miscue in the defense,  the half went very well.  The La Soledads capitalized on the miscommunication and tied the score up.

The Firecrackers were able to recover well by passing crisply  through the midfield.  Although they were caught a couple times holding the ball too long, the majority of the time, the passing lead to goal-scoring opportunities.  At one point, there was a string of about 10 passes through the midfield and up to the forwards.  Those passes were turned into great through balls for the forwards.  Thomas Andalon had a couple great shots on goal as a result.  The La Soledad keeper really kept them in the game.

 The Firecrackers also did a great job of crossing the ball into the 6-yard box, causing all kinds of problems for the La Soledad defense.  On two occasion, both Ronnie Jenkins and Brian Sturges lifted balls from near midfield into the opposite side of the goal box.  Dave Ahlgren managed to head the ball across to Jeremy Basanese, who had a chance at a goal, but the goalie made a great save.  He also gave Franco a chance at a full-volley shot. 

 The defense held well, as it usually does.  The Firecrackers did not want a tie this game, and they kept the pressure up until the very end.  Enough pressure built up, and the Firecrackers were awarded a penalty-kick with less than two minutes to go.  Ahlgren crossed the ball into a charging Ronnie Jenkins, who collided with a defender as the ball got to him.  It might have been a questionable call at the time, but it certainly made up for all the rest of the calls that didn’t go the Firecracker’s way.  Normally, the foulee doesn’t take the PK right after he’s fouled, but in this case, Ronnie was confident that he could make it.  His confidence paid off, and less than a minute later, the ‘Crackers were celebrating their second victory.

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