Poor 2nd Half Performances Gives Match Fit Academy the Day
PRINCETON JUNCTION (Mar. 16, 2008) — A poor 2nd half performance by both FC DELCO Academy teams allow Match Fit Academy to take all the points last Sunday in US Soccer's Mid-Atlantic conference clash at the Mercer County Community College. While FC DELCO Under-16 squad seems to struggling to find last season's form, the Under-18 performance was particularly hard to take as they let a 2-nil lead slip starting in 1st half stoppage time.
The Under-16 game can be summed up for DELCO as missed opportunites that came back to haunt. In the first have, DELCO wasted three clear opportunities with only the goal keeper to beat, and 1 missed shot inside the 6 yard box with an open goal. Unlike FC DELCO, Match Fit made the most of their chances. The opening goal came from ?? beating DELCO's Robert Rosato from about 30 yards out. It must be said that Rosato was effectively screened and didn't see the shot until very late. FC DELCO responded almost immediately off of a set piece. Joseph Schmid curled a corner service beating the Match Fit keeper to the far post.
FC DELCO came to rue their missed 1st half opportunities as they were soundly out-played in the 2nd. Match Fit took advantage of a disorganized DELCO defense early in the half when they failed to adequetly clear their lines. DELCO's Voltaire Escalona was beaten to the end line and Andrew O'Malley's attempt at a clearance resulted in an own goal. Match Fit put the game out of reach for DELCO in the 69th minute with their 3rd goal.
The Under-18 Development Academy league game between Match Fit Academy and FC DELCO was similar to the earlier Under-16 game in that it was another example of DELCO's inability to finish and put away an opponent. All was bright for DELCO in the 25th minute when Nick Dundon pegged a 30yard volley to beat the Match Fit keeper to the far post. DELCO looked firmly in control in the 34th minute when David Cassanelli created an opportunity by driving at the Match Fit defender down the right side. Cassanelli slid a ball across the top of the box to Matt Margiotta who immediately created space for himself by two-touching the ball splitting two defenders and calmly slotting the ball inside the right post putting DELCO up 2 - nil.
Unfortunately for DELCO Margiotta's goal would prove to be the last bright spot for the day. Late in the first half DELCO midfielder Nikhil Gregg came off with a hamstring pull. Gregg proved to be the engine that kept DELCO in control of the midfield. With some newly found space in the midfield, Match Fit's Brandsdorfer pulled one back in the 41st minute beating McMullen to the near post. Early in the second half FC DELCO made what would turn out to be a tough routine goalkeeper substitution. On a defensive throw-in, DELCO's Tres Heffron substituted in goal for McMullen. Immediately following the defensive thow-in, a rash challange sent Match Fit's Allen to the spot for a PK. Unfortunately, this would be the first action Heffron would face.
With the score equalized at 2, DELCO finally started to ask some questions of the Match Fit defense. Match Fit seemed content to sit back, absorb the DELCO pressure with organization, and look to strike on a counter. As the second half wore on, DELCO started thowing bodies forward in hopes of finding that go-ahead goal - several times leaving themselves short at the back. In the 89th minute, Match Fit's Nelan exploited that defensive situation on a break away counter. Nelan's ability to finish in front of goal not only gave Match Fit the win against the run of play, but also presented a stark contrast to DELCO's missed opportunities in both tests.
