Two late goals gave the Seals an important victory tonight. Nothing is done and 4 teams are still fighting for two tickets to the playoffs, but with three games home in hand, they are in an ideal situation.
The Los Angeles Legends needed a win today to stay in the race. They produced a nice performance and had some good opportunities in a very balanced game, but the Seals, who remained concentrated until the end, dominated the last fifteen minutes and eventually were rewarded for their hard work.
The 200 fans didn't have to wait long to have their first emotion. In the first minute, on a long throw from the left, Peter Lovell headed the ball toward the goal. Right before Brent Douglas was going to catch it, Anthony Grillo deflected it into the net, but the goal was disallowed for an offside position (View Video #1 below).
3 minutes later, Los Angeles touched the post on a beautiful shot by Ross Schunk. After this quick start, both teams reduced the rhythm and tried to keep possession. The match was even. Both teams played well but couldn't finish the chances they created, their shots being either off target or easy to catch for the goalkeepers.
After a very entertaining show by The Clarences during the break (Listen below) The second half started the same way. However, the Legends seemed to be more consistant, resulting in multiple corner kicks and a few good situations in the box. Los Angeles was dangerously approaching the target until Tom Simpson (Seals' head coach) decided to make a few substitutions. Those fresh legs (Kellan Wilson - 53rd, Demitrius Omphroy - 59th, Junior Burgos - 72nd, and Corey Woolfolk - 84th) brought the extra energy to the Seals needed and the game slowly changed to finally be totally dominated by San Francisco in the final minutes. All of them were involved in the two goals.
After Kellan Wilson hit the post with a nice shot from the top of the box (70th), Omphroy provoked a foul on the right side of the Legends' box (See video #2). Seeing that the Legends' keeper was anticipating a cross, Junior Burgos took the free kick directly, aiming at the inside of the near post. Douglas had time to dive back and managed to deflect the shot...in his own goal! (1-0, 89th - See video #3 below)
Los Angeles then tried to rush toward the Seals' goal, but lost the ball too easily, and San Francisco seemed to easily control the 5 minutes of stoppage time.
Burgos had a second free kick from a similar position and sent a powerful curved ball out of reach of Douglas, but it crashed on the bar! (90th +2)
2 minutes later, Peter Lovell, who only joined the Seals 2 weeks ago (listen to him below), definitely ruined the hopes of his opponents. Kellan Wilson recovered the ball in the midfield and sent it immediately to Corey Woolfolk who perfectly deflected it in Lovell's run who found himself in the box with just Douglas to beat, which he did! (2-0, 90th +4 - See video #4 below)
Photo: Richard Duru
While his players were celebrating, Tom Simpson was already focused on getting ready for another "must-win" match against the weakest team of the division, the Lancaster Rattlers. This match will be the only home game that the Seals won't play at Negoesco. Here is the information:
Sunday July 13th, 2008 at 4 PM San Francisco Seals - Lancaster Ratlers
Chabot College, Hayward, CA* (Map) *This match will be a fundraiser for the Chabot College Men's Soccer program headed by former Nigeria National Team's Captain, Tony Igwe
