[DataKing]

Season 2 – Cup Match #3

Screamin’ Seamen vs. FC Zeljeznicar

Date: December 25, 2002
Venue: The Docks (Chicago, IL)
Attendance: 17,350 (17,350)
Weather: Cloudy

Going into the third round of the U.S.A. Cup, we encountered something completely new to us. For the first time in the short history of the franchise, we found ourselves honestly out-matched on every side of the ball. Offensively and defensively, FC Zeljeznicar looked like the obvious favorites. This was somewhat to be expected, however, since they were from U.S.A.’s Division Three.

All the same, the fact that it was a home game in front of a sellout crowd gave us hope. We could find no real tactical flaws in the sort of game Zeljeznicar typically played. In fact, they proved to be somewhat unpredictable, so we put together the best team that we could and hoped for the best.

Formation: 3-5-2

Starters

Keeper: #1 Darryl Read

Right Wingback: #3 Ben McMahon
Central Defender: #2 Chuck Scales
Left Wingback: #23 William Brown

Right Winger: #25 Paul Peralta
Inner Midfielder: #4 Pete “The Old Goat” Tomlin
Inner Midfielder: #7 Lucian Tere
Inner Midfielder: #6 Charlie Bautista
Left Winger: #10 Olav Mauffret

Forward: #11 Johannes Henriksson
Forward: #15 Forrest Tobias

Team Captain: #11 Johannes Henriksson
Set Pieces: #11 Johannes Henriksson

Substitutes
-Keeper: #13 Fredric McKinley
-Defender: #17 Luis Javier Prada
-Inner Midfielder: #20 Felix Pedersen
-Forward: #9 Ruben Stewart
-Winger: #8 Max Dodge

We had to play our starters to have any chance of advancing to the fourth round, but did make a couple of changes. The suspension of Arlen Lucas forces us to start Brown and McMahon at wingback. Also, winger Max Dodge has yet to show us anything this season, but we have an experienced alternative in Paul Peralta.

Match Report

After 15 minutes Zeljo put themselves up by 0 - 1 as Jon Mårtensson finished off a strike from the left with a real cannon placed at the far post. A header from Jon Mårtensson connected with a corner kick after 24 minutes, and the ball ended up with Antti Mäkelä of Zeljo who shot the 0-2 goal. After 29 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for Bengt Tran who increased Zeljo´s lead to 0 - 3. The structure of the game started to change as Zeljo decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. Screamin's William Brown got himself booked after a foul. Juha Byman came close to extending the visitors lead as he, completely unmarked in front of the goal, lifted a ball over Darryl Read, hitting the bar. Zeljo´s Tommy Kjellen received a play slashing through the home side´s defense in the 35:th minute, chipping it past the keeper scoring 0 - 4. The home crowd was not pleased with that one. The referee showed Screamin's Lucian Tere the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Due to a severely mistimed tackle,Bengt Tran spent some on the grass writhing in agony before he could get up and continue the game. 0 - 4 was the half-time score. Zeljo held the ball, with a clear 51 percent possession rate.

After 46 minutes Pete Tomlin could have reduced had it not been for an excellent block by the visitors keeper Bruni Desmarais. In the 48:th minute Johannes Henriksson passed through the guests central line of defense, scoring the 1 - 4 goal. Screamin' managed a superb strike in the 55:th minute that would have left goaltender Bruni Desmarais without a chance, had it been on the inside of the post. Screamin', bringing the final ball possession rate to 53 percent, dominated the battle.

Final Score: FC Zeljeznicar 4, Screamin’ Seamen 1

Goals
Henriksson – 1(5)

Cards
Brown (yellow)
Tere (yellow)

Player Ratings

Read: **1/2

McMahon: **1/2
Scales: ***
Brown: **1/2

Peralta: **
Tomlin: **
Tere: **
Bautista: **1/2
Mauffret: **1/2

Henriksson: **1/2
Tobias: **1/2

Team Match MVP: #2 Chuck Scales

Team Ratings

Screamin’ Seamen
-Midfield: Inadequate (5)
-Right Defense: Excellent (8)
-Central Defense: Excellent (8)
-Left Defense: Passable (6)
-Right Attack: Inadequate (5)
-Central Attack: Passable (6)
-Left Attack: Solid (7)

FC Zeljeznicar
-Midfield: Inadequate (5)
-Right Defense: Excellent (8)
-Central Defense: Solid (7)
-Left Defense: Solid (7)
-Right Attack: Solid (7)
-Central Attack: Excellent (8)
-Left Attack: Formidable (9)

Comments

We played 45 minutes of great soccer, but unfortunately this is a 90 minute game. We were down 4-0 at halftime, which was far too steep of a deficit to overcome. Henriksson’s goal was little consolation, and for the first time since the team was formed, we lost a competitive match.

The good news, if you can call it that, is that we can now concentrate on league play and get back to our normal defensive training regimen.

Up Next: Our league match looks to be an easy one this week. We host a relatively new Gazzaly FC team. Stay tuned!