Men's Soccer Saturday Rewind

Langara Falcons 2 – VIU Mariners 2

A “hand ball” call in extra time in the 90th minute awarded a Falcons penalty kick resulting in a 2-2 final score.

There is no love lost between these two teams as the Falcons had won the previous two meetings, each by a goal in a pair of tightly contested games.  Saturday afternoon was no different as both teams traded goals and physical play.   

The hometown Mariners opened the scoring in the 23^rd minute.  James Upshaw lifted a ball from the right side into the middle of the pitch, bouncing into the 18-yard box where a battle took place between an attacking Mariner forward and a Falcons defender.   Trailing the play was Connor Nelson who wisely waited to see where the ball would land following the battle, controlled it and then took a shot through the keeper’s legs and into the net.

In the 38^th minute Nelson and the Mariners extended their lead.  Their forwards put extra pressure on the Falcons backline and created a turnover.  Nelson controlled the ball, sent a pass over to Upshaw before getting it back on a pretty give and go play at the top of the box.  Once Nelson got it back, he whistled a shot past the keeper into the net for his second of the contest for a two-goal advantage at halftime.

Down by a pair, the Falcons would cut the lead in half in the 48^th minute.  Kazuki Nakanishi received a gorgeous pass at the top left side of the 18-yard box, then carried the ball all the way across the top of the box, shedding two defenders in the process, took a shot back across his body and tucked it just inside the far post, freezing the keeper for his second of the season.

After that the Mariners’ backline and keeper didn’t allow much before a Falcons’ prayer was answered.  With the game in extra time in the second half, the Falcons were buzzing with all kinds of pressure.  They got the ball in the 18-yard box, where a shot went off the hand of a Mariners defender resulting in a penalty kick.  David Rodriguez Zegarra stepped up to the dot and delivered on the Falcons tying goal with a shot right down the middle with the keeping guessing left.  The marker is his sixth goal of the season and third PK tally.

These two fiery teams will see each other for the final time in the regular season on Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm.  WATCH HERE

Douglas Royals 3 – Capilano Blues 2

A high scoring affair on Saturday as the Royals leapfrog the Blues into second place in the standings with three games remaining.

The hometown Royals got on the board first after forcing a turnover on a clearing attempt.  The ball was headed back towards the 18-yard box where a pretty pass ended up on the right foot of Jack Spencer who promptly sent a missile of a shot into the net to open the scoring.

The Blues found the equalizer in the 38^th minute, getting a hard-earned goal from Zach Gabrys.  He first won a tough ball battle with a Royals’ defender near the top of the 18-yard box and was able to get free, turned on another gear getting inside the box before unleashing a terrific shot into the top left-hand corner where the keeper had no chance.

Just before the half, the Royals regained the lead in extra time.  They would take advantage of some sloppy ball handling by the Blues backline resulting in a tap pass to Keishean Francois who was able to bend a shot just inside the top left corner for the prettiest goal of the game.

Despite being down and on the road, the Blues knew they needed to keep pushing and when they are behind, they look for leading scorer Sebastian Cirotto, who answered the bell.  In the 54^th minute the Blues found some running room down the left side of the pitch to begin their rush. Cirotto peeled off, fading towards the middle and received a beautiful pass just above the 18-yard box and with a lightning-fast shot, he picked the top left corner for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Both teams traded chances the rest of the way until the Royals took their third lead of the game in the 86^th minute.  Andrew Kerr found some daylight between two Blues and tracked down a through-ball with great speed.  With a couple of dribbles, Kerr found himself in the 18-yard box on the right side and without hesitation blasted a shot past a sliding keeper into the back of the net for the game winning goal.

The victory was the Royals fourth of the season and gives them sole possession of second place in the standings coming into Sunday’s rematch.  The scene will shift to Capilano with the kick-off set for 2:30pm.  WATCH HERE