Eclipse Challenge Cup - Day #4 Final

 Sunday, Aug 17

The girls were tired.  Coming into our fifth game in three days, with 11 year old legs on a large field early in the season, and hot weather.  No excuses though as Carmel was in a similar situation, compounded a bit more for them with two girls going down with broken arms this weekend.  Probably wouldn't be pretty soccer but I'm sure girls on both teams would give it everything they had left. 

Carmel was a solid team.  They had some very technical players and some terrific athletes as well.  A few of them had guessed with Andy's U12 team last summer as U11s and had more than held their own. 

The first half was a fairly even contest.  Both teams were tired that much was certain.  Both teams created a few chances on goal with neither team able to create a really dangerous opportunity.

Carmel looked a bit unsettled, I think in part due to our athleticism and the pressure we were able to apply.  Their coach seemed frustrated a bit that her girls seemed unable to keep possession of the ball and string passes together as they must have been able to do earlier in the weekend.

The first half ended 0-0.  Fairly even, fairly uneventful.

Not much tactical talk at halftime.  The girls were giving all they had.  Their physical tanks were near empty so I thought it best to fill their emotional tanks.  I sat them down and told them how proud I was of how far they'd come this weekend, of their effort, and of their successes in each game.  We laughed a bit about some of the funny stuff that happened at last night's team dinner, I poked fun at a few girls, and then it was time to take the field again.

We came out relatively sharp, finally creating a chance at goal after a quick passing combination from Wiki (LM) to Chels (LF) to Babes (Point).

Carmel 1 Babes shot from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

A minute later we countered quickly after some good possession by Carmel in our defensive third.  Dogg's outlet pass to B-Money and her subsequent heads up one-time pass to spring Babes on a breakaway was whistled for offside.  Good call actually by the linesman as it was very, very close (I was right there to see it as well).  

Carmel 2 Quick counter from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

Carmel created the best chance of the game thus far 7 minutes into the half.  We tuned out on a throw in near midfield and allowed the ball to be thrown in over our outside defender's head.  A low cross and some good dribbling skill by the Carmel left forward saw her clear at the top of the box.  Her shot went high.

Carmel 3 Carmel presses from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

We took the goal kick and stormed down field to win a corner.  B-Money's corner kick was headed (a really, really good jumping header) for another corner.  Her second well struck dead ball dropped in the Carmel six yard box but we didn't have anyone close enough to pounce on it.  Dogg ran down the panicked clearance to the left side of the box, found some space with a fantastic Step Over Turn, and sent in a cross that Quicksy tried to put away.  Tough defending by Carmel's central defender saw her able to clear danger.

Carmel 4 Dangerous CKs from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

The chances seemed to revitalize us a bit and the girls began to find passes.  A good combination between Vivi (RM), B-Money (Point), and Quicksy (RF) saw us break up the right side, only to be run down by the speedy Carmel defenders.

Carmel 5 Combo play from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

Two minutes later, a nice change of field ball by Dogg (CM) found Chels on the left side of the field.  Tough work by her to keep the ball alive and Kait (LM) picked up the loose ball.  A good touch into the Carmel box, but her shot was too high.

Carmel 6 Kait shot from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

10 minutes from time Carmel got another great chance at goal.  A series of mistakes through defense and midfield allowed Carmel to eventually penetrate into our box and pull a cross back towards our PK spot.  Dogg tried to clear the area but miss hit the ball.  I thought for sure we were down 1-0 but the rocket of a shot just missed the far post. 

Carmel 7 Phew from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

Carmel got the game winner with a minute left on the clock.  Tired legs and minds saw us, after a series of mistakes by different players, clear the ball towards the middle of the field and fail to pressure the Carmel midfielder in clear possession of the ball at the top of the box.  The high shot sailed over Normy in goal to give Carmel the championship.  

Carmel 8 GA from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

Hard fought game between two very good teams.  I was extremely proud of the girls and their performance.  TONS of stuff to work on that's for sure, but a terrific way to start out this year!