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.