Cataraqui Soccer Club

Cataraqui II 2 vs Joga Bonito 0

It was an epiphany.

Cataraqui II realized how to play glorious football on a perfect night under the lights at Caton’s 1.  The secret really is in passing the ball on the ground.

Having given away the main reason why we won this game handily (not easily) let me take from the back.  Max and Val shared the shut out between them.  Max started in goal and produced some good early saves, including one particularly difficult one which skipped off the uneven sand.  James had orchestrated the defence once again and took on the role of marking top goal scorer Jared Savory out of the game.  Jared never had a look in and became increasingly frustrated with the close pressure as the game went on.  The back line was solid all night, and Paul provided extra cover when needed.  Joga did get some good shots in, but Max and Val were equal to them.  Val saved a very well directed free kick towards the end of the first half.

In the midfield we had control with Roman and Joe laying off excellent passes to the wings and forwards.  Joe also showed his ability to drive a football with a 35 yarder which had the bench on its feet and the Joga keeper scrambling.  Joel (The Spy Who Came in From the Cold) Badour opened the scoring with a wonderful goal.  Coming in from the right touchline he sliced through the defence and hit an unstoppable shot in at the near post.  This definitely took the wind out of the Joga sails, and we had the rest of the first half to ourselves apart from the previously mentioned free kick.

Coach Pierce, still looking a little stressed, but settling well into the job, kept the shifts short and sharp, and was constantly being praised for his efforts.  So much so that it was suggested that we keep him injured right into next season.

Joga Bonito knew that they had it all to do in the second half, and came out running fast and tackling hard.  No crack appeared in the defence, and frustration from the Joga forwards mounted.  The tackling got a bit messier.  From a free kick on the right, Joe sailed the ball into the box where Tyson caught it with a perfect volley.  There was no stopping this one and the score was 2 – 0 and the game was all but over.  There was no sense of complacency on our part. There were numerous break-aways down the wings with Brian winning and laying off the ball (and getting it back), and through the middle with Dino hounding the defence and letting fly when he got the chance. No agonized glances to the sidelines this game because the passing kept going.  We would string seven or eight passes together before a good shot or winning a corner or throw in.  It was a pleasure to watch.

Val had one more save to make to keep the clean sheet and that was all she wrote.

A good result, but a much better game – an eye opener for us on how to play, but more importantly on how we can play.

Thursday 6:15pm at Caton's 1 is the Final against the Keg – hope all can make it.

Ross Morton