TAMPA – Mountain WFC’s U15 boys were minutes away from snatching their second victory of the 2009 Super Y-League North American finals Saturday afternoon, before Alpharetta United striker Myles Englis leveled the score at 1-1 two minutes from full time.
Following a 6-1 victory against Brooklyn Knights on Friday afternoon, MWFC got off to a dream start in their second group game when midfielder Jayson Santiago centered a powerful low cross that found striker Jordan MacDonnell finished confidently past United keeper Cain McMillain in the 2nd minute.
Looking labored but not troubled, Alpharetta began looking for the equalizer and nearly found it on 12 minutes when Niami Jabang shot just over the Mountain West goal.Seven minutes later it was Englis who shot just wide of Simon Cohen’s net
MWFC began dominating in possession through the end of the half, as they tried to spread out a United team with only two substitutes. Thought the only fruit of their labor was a weak effort on target from Jayson Santiago, which United’s McMillain had little trouble with and the half ended 1-0 for the Vancouver based club.
Alpharetta came out in the second half controlling the match with much more possession than in the first frame. In the 62nd minute Chu Chu Oneywu glanced a header that trickled just wide of Mountain’s goal frame.
MWFC missed a golden chance to put the match away in the 68th minute when midfielder Gilbert Kyne slid the ball to Tanner Wright at the six yard box but Wright put the ball just over the bar and Unitned breathed a sigh of relief.
Alpharetta thought they had the leveler in the 75th minute when striker Jacob Law blasted a shot from the left side of the 18 forcing a cat-like save out of Mountain goal keeper Simon Cohen.
Three minutes later though it was Englis who made up for his first half miss by heading home a free kick from Onyewku in the 78th minute.
Not putting their hand down MWFC looked for the winner later in stoppage time, with Will Barraclough banging the ball of the post and Kyne’s rebound missing just wide.
“It was a very fair result for both sides today,” said United head coach Ben Parks. “In a match between two very solid teams, both goals were earned and we feel good about the match, given the way it started.
MWFC and United sit tied atop the U15 boys Group B table on four points, though MWFC currently has the tie breaker on goal difference. Both clubs round out group play tomorrow at 3:00 pm at Ed Radice Sports Complex. MWFC takes on bottom of the group MPS Portland (0-2-0) while Alpharetta faces an upstart third place Brooklyn Knights, who are on three points.
Following a 6-1 victory against Brooklyn Knights on Friday afternoon, MWFC got off to a dream start in their second group game when midfielder Jayson Santiago centered a powerful low cross that found striker Jordan MacDonnell finished confidently past United keeper Cain McMillain in the 2nd minute.
