Thursday, August 04, 2005
LISC Tie Darlington 0 – 0 In Outstanding Game
In what might be their best ever performance, LISC held Darlington FC to a 0 – 0 tie. Darlington, likely the best team in their division in this tournament, and also a club whose younger teams feed into an English Division 1 professional team, were held scoreless and were frustrated by one of the most concentrated efforts of the American team’s career. Darlington earned at least 3 yellow cards, reflecting their frustration with the assertive play of LISC, who earned no cards and won the majority of the free kicks. While the larger team, Darlington nonetheless seemed to have trouble with LISC’s athletic assertiveness. In a key match up on the right side of the midfield, John Munson, giving up a good foot or more to a Darlington midfielder, won most tackles and even moved the ball deep into the Darlington corner, earning LISC a number of key corner kicks and chances.
Reverting to the traditional 4-4-2 formation from their standard 3-4-3 (with Martinez, Adickes, Wingo, and Baird at the back), LISC was solid, allowing Darlington only a few chances per half, with goalie Mark Pataky always on his line and justly earning the shut out. LISC fought for a number of free kicks at the top of the box, with Tim Parks bending a few shots on frame, although the Darlington keeper was always well positioned throughout the game for the save. With AJ Sikorski coming on once again up top after a solid performance from Kedeem Bridgewater, LISC had a number of good runs off the ball and some chances in front of the Darlington goal mouth that caused moments of panic for the English defenders. LISC forwards and midfielders such as Martin Musurana, Scot Chapman, and Miguel Manero harried the Darlington attack with constant pressure. Especially frustrating for Darlington seemed to be pressure applied by the LISC forwards to the Darlington back line. Making substitutions and moving players around late in the 2nd half did not help Darlington win a goal, as LISC kept to their successful formula throughout the match, celebrating their tie with Darlington at game’s close as if it were one of their best victories.
With a loss, tie, and win, LISC go into Friday’s games needing only, perhaps, a win in a double-header, or 2 ties, to make the top 4 of 6 team bracket. The top 4 teams advanced to the champions tournament. The bottom 2 teams play consolation games.
Reverting to the traditional 4-4-2 formation from their standard 3-4-3 (with Martinez, Adickes, Wingo, and Baird at the back), LISC was solid, allowing Darlington only a few chances per half, with goalie Mark Pataky always on his line and justly earning the shut out. LISC fought for a number of free kicks at the top of the box, with Tim Parks bending a few shots on frame, although the Darlington keeper was always well positioned throughout the game for the save. With AJ Sikorski coming on once again up top after a solid performance from Kedeem Bridgewater, LISC had a number of good runs off the ball and some chances in front of the Darlington goal mouth that caused moments of panic for the English defenders. LISC forwards and midfielders such as Martin Musurana, Scot Chapman, and Miguel Manero harried the Darlington attack with constant pressure. Especially frustrating for Darlington seemed to be pressure applied by the LISC forwards to the Darlington back line. Making substitutions and moving players around late in the 2nd half did not help Darlington win a goal, as LISC kept to their successful formula throughout the match, celebrating their tie with Darlington at game’s close as if it were one of their best victories.
With a loss, tie, and win, LISC go into Friday’s games needing only, perhaps, a win in a double-header, or 2 ties, to make the top 4 of 6 team bracket. The top 4 teams advanced to the champions tournament. The bottom 2 teams play consolation games.
