Game Report: Victoria United (1) VS. Chilliwack SC (1)
Game Roster
Saturday June 27, 2009
Victoria United U21 played at Hampton Park today at 12 noon against Chilliwack SC. This was the second meeting of the teams and we knew that it would be a very physical match.
The first half started out with the teams evenly matched and the game was back and forth. Fifteen minutes into the first half forward Rodrigo Cruz was taken down in the Chilliwack box and Manny Straith stepped up to take the penalty kick for Victoria and slotted the ball in the back of the net to give Victoria the lead.
At the 25th minute, Chilliwack forward Craig Robertson muscled his way around defender Manny Straith and he made no mistake and shot a rocket into the back of the Victoria net to tie the game up. Victoria again had an opportunity from a corner kick, Zack Aylward received the ball, took the shot but it was just short of the Chilliwack net. Victoria kept pressing for a lead, a beautiful ball from defender Evan Smith was kicked to Lanny Benson who one timed the shot and was just short of the inside post. Just before the end of the 1st half the ball was played up with some nice one touch passing from United which ended up to the feet of midfielder Jordie French who took the shot and skimmed it past the Chilliwack post. The first half would end 1-1 with a evenly matched game with chances from both teams.
Five minutes into the 2nd half, a United defender played a soft ball back to his Victoria keeper, which Chilliwack forward Craig Robertson ran onto. Defender Jordon Mannix ran in to close him down but not before the Chillwack forward shot a low hard far post bullet but was denied by Victoria keeper Blake Ridley who was able to get enough finger tips on the ball to send it off the Victoria post and out for a Victoria clearance.
Victoria kept pressuring and hand many chances to take the lead by at least two goals, but we just weren't connecting. It was a good game to watch as you didn't know who would take the lead or make the mistake that would cost them the goal. The match would end a 1-1 draw.
Coach Nick Daniel commented: "Over all, they played well. I was disappointed that our lack of finishing let us down again today. We were plagued with some injuries from some key starters which gave our young players some time on the field and I was happy that we were able to create a lot of chances. The team realizes what we need to work on to win."
Victoria United U21 will be playing their last two PCSL-Reserve Division games on the road to the Okanagan on Saturday, July 18, where they will meet Okanagan Whitecaps at 7:30 p.m. at Beasly Park (Winfield) and on Sunday, July 19, against Kamloops Excel at 1:00 p.m. at McArthur Island.
Due to the long stretch, Victoria United(U21) Reserves will be playing an Exhibition Match against Nanaimo U21 on Saturday, July 4th, at Hampton Park at 1:00pm.
Then on Sunday, July 12, Victoria United(U21) Reserves will take on the Victoria Highlanders FC Reserve Team (which does not play in an organized league). The game will be at Royal Athletic Park at 5:00 pm, following the Victoria United Senior Team’s 2:30 pm match against Whitecaps FC Prospects.
Back to U-21's 2009 Schedule
