Atlanta Fire's USSF Academy teams traveled to Charlotte, NC to take on N. Mecklenberg and Charlotte Soccer Academy in division cross-over games. With temperatures well below freezing at kick-off it really was about which team could adjust and settle in quicker.
N. Meck were that team. Their u-16 team quickly took control of the game and scored two early goals in the 13th and 16th minutes to put AFU back on their heels. Two more goals followed right before half time and AFU were reeling. They did raise their efforts in the 2nd half and created a few decent efforts on goal but N. Meck were not about to let this victory slip and added a 5th with 15 minutes to go in the contest.
The u-18 game proved to be a much closer affair with both teams providing a back and forth encounter. AFU started slow but grew in confidence as the game wore on and created several very good chances including two breakaway's that they were unable to convert. N. Meck were themselves finding openings in the AFU defense but at the half despite more than a dozen chances between the two teams it was still tied 0-0.
The 2nd half began as the first ended with both team pushing hard to find a goal. Some inspired defending by AFU kept N. Meck scoreless and then late in the contest a quick counter attack by AFU allowed Luke Ade to breakaway again but this time he finished convincingly in the bottom corner. N. Meck became desperate and pushed more players forward this opened them up at the back and AFU took advantage with another break. This time a beautiful scoop pass by Stefan Gojic freed Ade up and he flicked the bouncing ball into the net. N. Meck responded almost immediately and scored to make it 2-1. In keeping with the back and forth theme of this game AFU found a 3rd goal when Pete Kurowsky was put through and in similar fashion to Ade flicked the ball up over the N. Meck keeper to make it 3-1. Once again N. Meck got themselves back into the contest when a deep cross was headed home with less than 5minutes to go. AFU had to sustain some serious pressure from the home team but managed to hold on to a very impressive 3-2 win.
On Sunday, in more freezing conditions Charlotte Soccer Academy was AFU's opponent. The u-16's started much brighter than they had the day before. They were dealing with Charlotte's attacks very well and creating some openings themselves. At the 25th minute captain Roberto Hinojosa was substituted (a recurrence of an injury he had suffered the day before playing "up" for the u-18's) and Amin El Shami was brought on in his place. El Shami had an immediate impact playing a through ball for Chris Harrison to chase on to. Harrison forced the defender into an error and calmly rounded the keeper with the ball and scored. So at the half a 1-0 lead for AFU.
Charlotte made some personnel changes in the 2nd half and came out with serious intent. They attacked the AFU defense with wave after wave of relentless pressure. It was a case of bend but don't break for AFU and they seemed to have it figured out when a diagonal ball for once slipped through their rearguard and in a flash a Charlotte forward turned and fired into the net. A crushing blow for AFU who until that point had done fantastically well. It was a blow that AFU could not shake and Charlotte sensed this. Three quickfire goals put paid to AFU's chances of getting a result. Despite the loss it was a much improved performance by AFU and in particular Chris Harrison who battled away up front by himself and was a constant threat to Charlotte all game long.
The u-18 contest did not live up the previous day's game. It started flat with neither team really taking the initiative. Charlotte seemed to settle first and their direct style and hard running put AFU under a lot of pressure. A free kick halfway through the half was whipped into AFU's 18yd area and first to react was a Charlotte player who managed to loop the ball over Mitch Kupstas in the AFU goal. Just a few minutes later an errant pass gave Charlotte the ball 20yds from goal and a brilliant curling strike left Kupstas with no chance. It was always going to be tough to get two back and although a valiant effort by AFU in the 2nd half gave them some hope, Charlotte were able to do enough to deny AFU and hold on for the win.
Next up for AFU is a trip to Raleigh and Greensboro to take on CASL and Greensboro. Good luck boys!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
AFU Academy u-18's Enjoy Succes at Disney's Prestigious Soccer Showcase
Atlanta Fire's u-18 USSF Academy team showed well at the recent Disney Showcase in Orlando FL. The team won all three of it's group games, defeating FC Blazers from MA 2-1 with goals by Ryan King and Stephen Dunbar in their opening fixture. In the 2nd tie AFU played some very effective soccer beating FC of Evansville of IN 3-1 with two goals by forward Luis Huertas and a well taken penalty by Alec Kronitz. The third game was against fellow USSF Academy club FC Delco who provided stiff opposition for AFU but ultimately they came out on top by a score of 1-0, Lucas Ade scoring late in the game after some excellent work by u-16 player and captain Roberto Hinojosa.
Unfortunately the team could not repeat their high levels of performance in the final against Cincinnati Crew and were soundly beaten 5-1 with the lone strike coming from Hinojosa.
Next up for AFU's academy program is a trip to Charlotte, N. Carolina to take on North Mecklenberg and Charlotte Soccer Club on January 9th and 10th respectively.
Unfortunately the team could not repeat their high levels of performance in the final against Cincinnati Crew and were soundly beaten 5-1 with the lone strike coming from Hinojosa.
Next up for AFU's academy program is a trip to Charlotte, N. Carolina to take on North Mecklenberg and Charlotte Soccer Club on January 9th and 10th respectively.
AFU v Concorde Fire
Atlanta Fire United took on local rivals Concorde Fire in the next round of the USSF Academy league. The u-16 AFU team started quite well but it wasn't long before Concorde asserted their dominance on the game when some indecisive defending allowed a Concorde forward to sneak in and head past Joel Thornton, the AFU goalkeeper. Concorde kept up the pressure and forced a 2nd not long after taking the lead when a corner was rifled into the 6yd box and wicked deflection off of an AFU player made the score 2-0. Just before half time it was 3-0 when a clearance took a fortunate deflection into the path of a Concorde player and he finished low into the far post.
AFU started the 2nd half looking rejuvenated and closed the gap almost immediately to 3-1 when a very well worked free-kick allowed Roberto Hinojosa to curl one into the upper 90. AFU pushed hard to find a 2nd goal that would put them well and truly back into the game and despite some excellent chances could not find the net. As they continued to push forward Concorde were taking their chances with good counter attacks and finally it paid off for them when they scored their 4th goal.
AFU had no reply but a much better 2nd half despite the disappointing loss.
The u-18's got off to a great start when in the first minute some excellent interplay on the right flank released Boris Fridman who scored at the near post. Concorde replied swiftly when a dangerous ball into the box was deflected into the goal by a Concorde forward. AFU went right back on the attack and a few minuted later they took the lead again when Luis Huertas latched onto a threw ball and rounded the Concorde Keeper and rolled the ball into the net. With 15 minutes to go in the half a straight red card was shown to a Concorde player supposedly for dissent. Concorde however pushed forward and just before half time were awarded a penalty when a late challenge in the box upended a Concorde player.
The 2nd half started with the same tempo as the 1st with both teams going all out. Within ten minutes of the restart b oth teams were down to 10 men when Taylor Krek was given a 2nd yellow for foul play. This opened the game up even more and both teams were creating numerous chances.
With 15 minutes to go a turnover in the AFU defensive 3rd allowed Concorde to quickly create a 1v1 situation whcih they took full advantage of and scored with a shot from 20yds. This only energized the two teams as they continued to attack. Unfortunately the ref took center stage just a few minutes later when he again produced two red cards, one for either team. With both teams reduced to 9 men AFU had two great chances late on to tie the game but neither finish was clinical enough. A great game albeit a disappointing result for the AFU faithful.
AFU started the 2nd half looking rejuvenated and closed the gap almost immediately to 3-1 when a very well worked free-kick allowed Roberto Hinojosa to curl one into the upper 90. AFU pushed hard to find a 2nd goal that would put them well and truly back into the game and despite some excellent chances could not find the net. As they continued to push forward Concorde were taking their chances with good counter attacks and finally it paid off for them when they scored their 4th goal.
AFU had no reply but a much better 2nd half despite the disappointing loss.
The u-18's got off to a great start when in the first minute some excellent interplay on the right flank released Boris Fridman who scored at the near post. Concorde replied swiftly when a dangerous ball into the box was deflected into the goal by a Concorde forward. AFU went right back on the attack and a few minuted later they took the lead again when Luis Huertas latched onto a threw ball and rounded the Concorde Keeper and rolled the ball into the net. With 15 minutes to go in the half a straight red card was shown to a Concorde player supposedly for dissent. Concorde however pushed forward and just before half time were awarded a penalty when a late challenge in the box upended a Concorde player.
The 2nd half started with the same tempo as the 1st with both teams going all out. Within ten minutes of the restart b oth teams were down to 10 men when Taylor Krek was given a 2nd yellow for foul play. This opened the game up even more and both teams were creating numerous chances.
With 15 minutes to go a turnover in the AFU defensive 3rd allowed Concorde to quickly create a 1v1 situation whcih they took full advantage of and scored with a shot from 20yds. This only energized the two teams as they continued to attack. Unfortunately the ref took center stage just a few minutes later when he again produced two red cards, one for either team. With both teams reduced to 9 men AFU had two great chances late on to tie the game but neither finish was clinical enough. A great game albeit a disappointing result for the AFU faithful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)