LISC U14 Boys European Tour

In what was their best offensive performance so far in the Dana Cup, LISC beat Kongahalla IK 2 to 1 to move on to play tonight at 7:10. The opening half saw LISC moving forward confidently, seeming to score in the opening 5 minutes when AJ Sikorski connected with Tim Parks for a header. When the referee blew his whistle and indicated a foul, the LISC sidelines thought a penalty kick was in order, but the referee called off the goal and held that Tim had pushed the keeper. Although they were outsized by Kongahalla IK, LISC fought bravely and had the much better technical control of the ball. Midway through the 1st half LISC scored on a well-placed long ball from Dean Adickes to Tim Parks, who scored on a breakaway. LISC continued to battle furiously on offense and were rewarded with another goal when a Michael DeLucia shot was rebounded and Billy Regan charged the goal and hit the net. Kongahalla attempted to stage a return in the closing minutes of the first half, but time soon ended. In the second half Kongahalla did begin a strong challenge of LISC, who showed some signs of the furious pace of the 1st half. Goalie Mark Pataky made a number of good saves. Around the 12-minute mark, Kongahalla broke down the tiring LISC defense and earned their goal off a nicely struck ball from the top of the box. The next 10 minutes turned into a battle for midfield and control of the ball, and, although winded, LISC mounted counter attacks and began earning crosses and corner kicks, which kept Kongahalla from devoting all their attention to the equalizer. In the final minutes, Kongahalla earned a free kick from the top of the box, LISC setting up a 5 man wall, their fans tensely awaiting the outcome: a well-struck, curving ball that cleared the top post and sailed into the nearby pines. Shortly thereafter the referee blew his whistle and LISC had their first victory in the knock-out round of the A division.

A nice touch during the game was to find Etne IL of Norway, whom LISC had beaten in group play, attending the match and cheering LISC with the familiar: Let's Go Illini, Let's Go, Let's Go Illini, Let's Go. Our diligent host, Sven-Erik noted as well that this was the best he has ever seen LISC play.