[DataKing]

Season 4 – U.S. Open Cup – Round 1

Nevada Kickers vs. Screamin’ Seamen

Date: July 23rd, 2003
Venue: Nevada Bowl (Carson City, NV)
Attendance: 5,757 (7,000)
Weather: Overcast

Today the Screamin’ Seamen begin their third journey through the U.S. Open Cup (we did not receive an invitation to participate in our inaugural season). In each of the previous two seasons we have been knocked out of the cup in the 3rd round. Last season, this was due to a mistake on our part, as we severely underestimated our opposition, and lost 2-nil to the Brooklyn Ex-Pats. We will not be making the same mistake this season.

The first step for us in the cup are the Nevada Kickers, a local soccer club with no real sponsorship or leadership. Today should prove to be little more than a warm-up for our lads, as we expect a very easy win. This will also give us an opportunity to see our new acquisitions in action, and evaluate their performances on the pitch.

Formation: 3-5-2

Starters (# starts w/SSFC, *s last time out)

Keeper: #1 Cornelius “Corny” Jernigan (24th start, ***)

Right Wingback: #5 Arlen “Headcase” Lucas (44th start, ****~)
Central Defender: #20 Keith Stubbs (3rd start, ***~)
Left Wingback: #22 Tyler Willard (24th start, ****)

Right Winger: #3 Ben McMahon (42nd start, **~)
Inner Midfielder: #6 Charlie Bautista (46th start, ***)
Inner Midfielder: #4 Pete “The Old Goat” Tomlin (42nd start, **~)
Inner Midfielder: #23 David Burton (1st start w/SSFC, ***~)
Left Winger: #9 Valentin Rubio (16th start, ***)

Forward: #12 Guido Metman (10th start, **~)
Forward: #14 German Galvez (1st start w/SSFC, ***)

Team Captain: #12 Guido Metman
Set Pieces: #23 David Burton

Substitutes
-Keeper: #13 Darryl Read
-Defender: #17 Mattias Leier
-Midfielder: #7 Lucian Tere
-Forward: #11 Johannes Henriksson
-Winger: #25 Paul Peralta

We’ll be running a box-standard 3-5-2 with our starters today, for a couple of reasons. First of all, we want to make sure that our starters are match-fit and ready for our game this Sunday against Sweden Heights. Second, we want to evaluate both of our new additions (David Burton and German Galvez) under “normal conditions,” to get a good feel for what we can expect from them in the weeks to come.

The one real change from our expected starting lineup is Pete “The Old Goat” Tomlin playing in place of Swedish midfielder Niklas Ivarsson. Niklas and reserve winger Olav Mauffret had a nasty collision earlier this week in practice, and Niklas is still nursing a sore knee as a result. We’ll be holding him out of today’s match and playing Pete in his place. Hopefully Niklas will be ready to go on Sunday.

Match Report

PRE-GAME

At Nevada Bowl, 5757 punters turned up, and despite threatening clouds at the horizon, no rain came.

Kickers had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Jaén - Ingram, Daniels, Kemp, Hall - Lumpkin, Riddick, Friend, Han - Llave, Ebert.

Screamin' started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Jernigan - Lucas, Stubbs, Willard - Mcmahon, Burton, Bautista, Tomlin, Rubio - Metman, Galvez.

FIRST HALF

Screamin' took the lead after 20 minutes with 0 - 1. Guido Metman placed the ball out of reach for the home sides keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left.

Valentín Rubio increased the visitors lead by putting a volley shot away on a pass from the right. 0 - 2.

Kickers´s Les Riddick refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon in the 30:th minute.

The game had been on for 33 minutes when David Burton broke through to the right, upping the score to the home crowd´s dismay. Screamin'´s were up 0 - 3.

After 38 minutes Kickers´s Daniel Hall contracted a slight foot injury, but could finish the game.

The teams went for a half-time break at 0 - 3. Screamin' held the ball, with a clear 82 percent possession rate.

SECOND HALF

The game had been on for 53 minutes when Valentín Rubio broke through to the right, upping the score to the home crowd´s dismay. Screamin'´s were up 0 - 4.

Germán Galvez of Screamin' received a yellow card in the 65:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour.

The visitors Germán Galvez took advantage of an error due to a misunderstanding between the home side´s goalie and full backs in the 67:th minute. 0 - 5 for Screamin'.

The referee showed Kickerss Maurice Ingram the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge.

David Burton could have added one to the visitors lead if his free kick had gone just a little lower.

The referee signalled a penalty in the 74:th minute following an offence just inside of the box. David Burton knocked home 0 - 6 just out of reach for the goaltender.

After this Screamin' lowered the tempo in order to concentrate on their defensive efforts.

In the games 84:th minute Kickers´s Frederick Ebert fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Frederick Ebert for taking a dive.

The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Screamin', with an impressive 92 percent possession of the ball.

POST-GAME

Most important Kickers player was Daniel Hall. Leonardo Kemp on the other hand, had a terrible day.

The most dominating Screamin' player was without a doubt Arlen Lucas. Ben Mcmahon on the other hand, had a terrible day.

Final Score: Screamin’ Seamen 6, Nevada Kickers 0

Goals

Metman – 1 (GWG)
Rubio – 2
Burton – 2 (1 penalty)
Galvez – 1

Cards

Galvez – yellow

Player Ratings

Jernigan: ***~

Lucas: ****
Stubbs: ***~
Willard: ****

McMahon: **~
Bautista: ***~
Tomlin: ***
Burton: ***~
Rubio: ***

Metman: ***
Galvez: **~

Team Ratings

Screamin’ Seamen
-Midfield: Inadequate (5)
-Right Defense: Outstanding (10)
-Central Defense: Outstanding (10)
-Left Defense: Brilliant (11)
-Right Attack: Solid (7)
-Central Attack: Solid (7)
-Left Attack: Solid (7)
-Experience: Poor (3)
-NSI: 67

Nevada Kickers
-Midfield: Wretched (2)
-Right Defense: Inadequate (5)
-Central Defense: Passable (6)
-Left Defense: Inadequate (5)
-Right Attack: Poor (3)
-Central Attack: Poor (3)
-Left Attack: Poor (3)
-Experience: Wretched (2)
-NSI: 31

Comments

An easy match, overall, just like we expected. Our guys toyed around with the Kickers for about the first twenty minutes, then started pouring it on, landing three goals before halftime. The second half would get no better for the opposition, as three more would find their way to the twine, giving a solid 6-nil opening round victory. The Kickers’ defense actually isn’t that bad, for a small local club at least, but could not contain our attack. The few times that the Kickers did move the ball onto our side of the pitch, they were quickly gobbled up and spit out by the defense.

David Burton did not disappoint in his debut for the club, scoring twice and nearly landing a third with a free kick that went just a tad too high. German Galvez, on the other hand, was a little bit of a disappointment. While he did manage a goal in the game, his level of play is a little below what we were expecting to see from him, and the booking he received in the second half did not help matters much. His form appears to be a little on the low side at the moment, but hopefully that will improve in the weeks to come.

Up Next: Training results for the week. Stay tuned!