AFU traveled to Charleston, SC to play South Carolina United in another divisional match up. The u-16's were up against an undefeated SCU team that was 8-0-0 coming into the game. SCU jumped to a quick 1-0 lead when the AFU defense was caught flat and an SCU player was allowed to race away and score. AFU got right back into the contest when Andres Pena was allowed to, in similar fashion, breakaway and finish sliding the ball under the SCU goalkeeper. AFU took control of the game and should have gone ahead when Chris Harrison beat his defender and went 1v1 with SCU's goalkeeper who this time made an excellent save. The it was SCU's turn and against the run of play they overloaded the left side and capitalized on some confusion in the AFU defense to take a 2-1 lead into half time.
AFU tried to raise the tempo in the 2nd half but SCU were now the team in control and doubled their lead when a deep cross was not dealt with by AFU and knock down in the box gave the SCU strider a simple tap in. The paced slowed after that goal as AFU could not find a way back into the game and SCU controlled the tempo and saw out the game quite comfortably.
AFU's u-18's were looking to get back to winning ways against SCU but took some time to get comfortable in the game as SCU were motivated and full of runningo early in the game. AFU had to do some stout defending to keep SCU out and needed to up do a better job of keeping the ball. As the half wore on AFU did start to find the rhythm of the game and started to create some half chances of their own.
Starting the 2nd half at 0-0 the game was there for taking but again SCU started brighter and but for some excellent saves from AFU goalkeeper, Mitch Kupstas, could have gone a couple of goals up. Then with less than 15 minutes to go AFU's Ryan King got up high in the box to head home a well taken Brady O'Brien corner and give the visitors a 1-0 lead. This spurred SCU on even more and with less than 2 minutes to go they finally got their equalizer when a long throw was headed past Kupstas.
A well fought contest that in the end provided a fair result for two honest hard-working teams.
AFU have a fortnight off and are on the road again on November 21st when they travel to Birmingham to take on BUSA.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
AFU sends 10 Players to Market Training Center
The US Soccer Federation held an identification camp on Saturday with 4 other clubs form the Southeast Division, Concorde Fire, AFC Lightning, Sout Carolina United, and Birmingham United. Players were selected via recent visits to regular season games by Federation scouts. Five players were selected from AFU's u-16 team, they were:
Jackson Taylor - Goalkeeper
Roberto Hinojosa - midfielder
Juan Herrera - midfielder/defennder
Chris Harrison - forward
Jeremy Rector - forward
And five players were selected from the u-18 team:
Brady O'Brien - defender
Alec Kronitz - defender
Ryan King - midfielder
Taylor Krek - midfielder
Luke Ade - forward
The players did some light technical work in the beginning of the session and then broke up into two groups and went through some tactical pattern play. The camp ended with a full 11 v11 game of 25 minute halves where players were closely evaluated.
The federation will be holding two more Market Training Centers in the Atlanta area one in the winter and one in the spring.
Jackson Taylor - Goalkeeper
Roberto Hinojosa - midfielder
Juan Herrera - midfielder/defennder
Chris Harrison - forward
Jeremy Rector - forward
And five players were selected from the u-18 team:
Brady O'Brien - defender
Alec Kronitz - defender
Ryan King - midfielder
Taylor Krek - midfielder
Luke Ade - forward
The players did some light technical work in the beginning of the session and then broke up into two groups and went through some tactical pattern play. The camp ended with a full 11 v11 game of 25 minute halves where players were closely evaluated.
The federation will be holding two more Market Training Centers in the Atlanta area one in the winter and one in the spring.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Weston and Miami FC Provide Stiff Opposition for AFU
Weston and Miami Kendall FC traveled to Atlanta to take on AFU. All 4 games provided excitement and high quality soccer with mixed results.
The u-16's vs Weston was the first game on Saturday and it proved to be a cracker. AFU got the first goal capitalizing on their early pressure when Andres Pena broke the Weston offsides trap and slipped the ball through the goalkeepers legs. Both teams created numerous chances after that and despite the score remaining 1-0 at the half it could quite easily have been 4-4. Weston raised their efforts in the 2nd half and it paid off when when won a penalty in the 54th minute. It was calmly stroked into the net and this set up a grandstand finish. Both teams went in search of the game winner with reckless abandon and both had great opportunities but both defenses refused to to beaten again.
The u-18 game was a more cagey affair. AFU created the more clear cut chances but Weston were dominating possession. The Weston goalkeeper was having an excellent game frustrating AFU on numerous breakaways and point blank shots and providing Weston with some dangerous counter-attacks with precision distribution. Then in the 64th minute a half cleared ball ricocheted off of an AFU defender and a Weston attacker and the ball spun into the bottom corner, 1-0 Weston. This spurred AFU into action and not long after that a Weston player received a 2nd yellow card resulting in a red. AFU pushed hard, again finding themselves with just the keeper to beat on several occasions but unable to find the net. Weston held on and took all three points
AFU took on Miami Kendall on Sunday. The u-16's struggled early on with Miami's excellent movement and accurate passing but slowly found their rhythm. AFU's defense was again having another solid day and snuffed out every Kendall attack despite a couple of very close calls. By the 2nd half AFU was wearing Miami down and Chris Harrison and Andres Pena in particular were causing lots of problems with their pace and craft. Then in the 71st minute Pena found Harrison 12 yard out unmarked and despite being off balance he was able to finish high into the net to the keepers left. AFU were forced to defend the remainder of the game as Miami tried to find an equalizer. They held on for an impressive 1-0 victory.
AFU u-18's seemed a little livelier than the day before and despite losing Matt Levins to injury early on in the game gained control and seemed to have Miami on the back foot. It wasn't until the 2nd half though that they really stamped their dominance on the game creating some excellent chances but similar to the Weston game no one could find the back of the net. Miami were a constant threat on the counter and the AFU defense had to be alert of that danger at all times. The game really opened up in the final few minutes as both teams were suffering from fatigue and some gilt-edged chances were missed by both teams. So a 0-0 tie which was somewhat flattering for Miami as AFU should have taken all three points.
That is the last home game for AFU until December 19th when they take on local rivals Concorde Fire. Next up is a trip to Charleston to face South Carolina United followed by a trip to Birmingham, both are important divisional games.
The u-16's vs Weston was the first game on Saturday and it proved to be a cracker. AFU got the first goal capitalizing on their early pressure when Andres Pena broke the Weston offsides trap and slipped the ball through the goalkeepers legs. Both teams created numerous chances after that and despite the score remaining 1-0 at the half it could quite easily have been 4-4. Weston raised their efforts in the 2nd half and it paid off when when won a penalty in the 54th minute. It was calmly stroked into the net and this set up a grandstand finish. Both teams went in search of the game winner with reckless abandon and both had great opportunities but both defenses refused to to beaten again.
The u-18 game was a more cagey affair. AFU created the more clear cut chances but Weston were dominating possession. The Weston goalkeeper was having an excellent game frustrating AFU on numerous breakaways and point blank shots and providing Weston with some dangerous counter-attacks with precision distribution. Then in the 64th minute a half cleared ball ricocheted off of an AFU defender and a Weston attacker and the ball spun into the bottom corner, 1-0 Weston. This spurred AFU into action and not long after that a Weston player received a 2nd yellow card resulting in a red. AFU pushed hard, again finding themselves with just the keeper to beat on several occasions but unable to find the net. Weston held on and took all three points
AFU took on Miami Kendall on Sunday. The u-16's struggled early on with Miami's excellent movement and accurate passing but slowly found their rhythm. AFU's defense was again having another solid day and snuffed out every Kendall attack despite a couple of very close calls. By the 2nd half AFU was wearing Miami down and Chris Harrison and Andres Pena in particular were causing lots of problems with their pace and craft. Then in the 71st minute Pena found Harrison 12 yard out unmarked and despite being off balance he was able to finish high into the net to the keepers left. AFU were forced to defend the remainder of the game as Miami tried to find an equalizer. They held on for an impressive 1-0 victory.
AFU u-18's seemed a little livelier than the day before and despite losing Matt Levins to injury early on in the game gained control and seemed to have Miami on the back foot. It wasn't until the 2nd half though that they really stamped their dominance on the game creating some excellent chances but similar to the Weston game no one could find the back of the net. Miami were a constant threat on the counter and the AFU defense had to be alert of that danger at all times. The game really opened up in the final few minutes as both teams were suffering from fatigue and some gilt-edged chances were missed by both teams. So a 0-0 tie which was somewhat flattering for Miami as AFU should have taken all three points.
That is the last home game for AFU until December 19th when they take on local rivals Concorde Fire. Next up is a trip to Charleston to face South Carolina United followed by a trip to Birmingham, both are important divisional games.
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