The Blades BU9 team continued their great run and won NINE consecutive games since the Spring Cup until they ran into America United SC Blue in the final of the Whittier Soccerfest last weekend, losing 2-3 in a hard fought game. It was an exciting game with even exchanges, and the result could have gone either way. The AUSC team took an early lead through a beautiful cross from the left flank that beat the entire Blades defense and found a header into the goal. However, soon afterwards David Medow sent in a cross from the left flank to find Givanni Ferber unmarked in front of the AUSC goal. Ferber made no mistake in placing the ball in the net.
It was a lively game after that with the Blades having the better of the exchanges in the 1st half. Carlos Larios, Jimmy Knights, Ferber, Medow each had opportunities that did not get putaway. Bobby Purcifull, playing his first tournament for the team, had a strong showing. Christopher Victoria and Ray Goren contributed on the two flanks. In spite of all that, minutes before the halftime the Blades had a setback through an own goal caused by a mix-up in their defense.
In the second half, the Blades came back strong looking for the equalizer. The AUSC team also responded very well, and both sides got several opportunities. In the Blades defense, Maisam Latif and Zach Howard rose to the occasion, while keeper Rohit Dutta came to his team’s rescue several times. About 10 minutes from the final whistle, Ferber sent in a corner kick from the right flank which was nodded in by Medow for the equalizer. However, the AUSC team worked hard to claw back into the game, and scored the match winner with a beautiful volley from top of the box minutes before the end of the game. The Blades team got a free kick in the scoring range seconds before the end. Tommaso Covino’s shot beat the entire defense but missed the mark by inches.
Earlier in the day, the Blades beat Legends FC 4-1 in the first semi-final. Blades took a 2-0 lead at half time through goals scored by Medow and Ferber. The Legends team pulled on back early in the second half, only to see two long clearances from Dutta finding Medow and Ferber who ran ahead of the defense to score twice more.
On Saturday, the Blades played against South Coast Bayern in their first game. The Bayern team had drawn the first blood and maintained the lead till half time. However, in the second half, Larios restored parity, and Covino and Medow scored twice more for the Blades. In the second game, the Blades played the AUSC White team. They were up 3-0 in the first half. Although the AUSC team managed to score once in the second half, The Blades struck thrice more to win 6-1. Covino scored a hat trick in this game. Larios, Medow and Ferber were the other scorers.
