USL Match Report

Sunday, November 22, 2009

TAMPA – Mountain WFC’s U13 boys took a giant step into the semifinals of the 2009 Super Y-League North American Championship Sunday morning by virtue of a 1-1 draw with New Jersey Stallions. The result clinched the Group C championship for the Vancouver based club.

“It was a match we probably deserved to win,” said MWFC head coach Les Krivak. “We didn’t take all our chances and it made for some nervous moments, but we’re happy with the result and glad to be playing tomorrow in the semifinals.”

Needing only a draw for advancement to the knockout stage, MWFC got on the board early when a deflected corner kick found itself at the feet of Justin Dhaliwal. The tall striker made no mistake finishing past the keeper from close range after six minutes.

“Justin’s goal wasn’t pretty but it was opportunistic,” said Krivak. “If we’d taken our other chances like that we’d have had three points from this match.”

Stallions nearly tied the score two minutes later when Chris Lema whipped a driving corner kick into the box, forcing a goal line punch from MWFC keeper Daniel Van Woerkens.

Following the save, Mountain took control of the match, bossing possession throughout midfield. A nice build up between midfielders Michael North and Alex Lazazzera resulted in a low driving shot from North that wandered just wide of the Stallion goal in the 17th minute.

Looking to win possession back, New Jersey swarmed the midfield and forced a costly turnover from MWFC. Countering towards goal, Zach Knudson was chopped down in the Mountain penalty area, forcing the ref to point to the spot. The diminutive midfield general stepped up and confidently placed the ball to the right of Van Woerkens. The spot kick was the first goal surrendered by MWFC in the tournament.

A midfield battle ensued for the remainder of the first frame, and the half ended locked at 1-1.

Knowing their only path towards advancement was to secure three points, Stallions tried to push for the go-ahead goal in the second half, but were thwarted at every turn by an organized Mountain West defense.

The team’s best chance came in the 57th minute when the ever-dangerous Knudson won a free kick at the top of the penalty arc. Lema played a deceptive short ball down the left side of the box to Luis Mendoza, but the winger was unable to put an effort towards goal.

Knowing they had the needed result in their grasp, Mountain did well to kill the game off and the referee blew the full time whistle after two minutes of second half stoppage time.

Mountain will take on Group A winners Ironbound SC in Monday’s semifinal. The other semifinal features Group B winners PDA and West Pines United, with the winners meeting for the U13 boys Super-Y North American Championship on Tuesday.