Sunshine Coast United showed a lot of heart last Saturday, Feb. 14, in a 2-0 home win over the South Burnaby Dog Pile.
With end-to-end play and quick passing, both teams played hard.
United had multiple chances, but South Burnaby’s goalie kept his team in the game.
The second half started strong, both teams hungry for the first goal of the game. United had a strong defensive line of Julian Woodin, Alex Hart, Kai Maniwa Brodie, and Owen Watson, keeping the ball in play and helping out their goalie. Forwards Taiyo Blackwell, Colby Elson, Brett Bjornson and Sierra Ryden all had an excellent game.
With 10 minutes remaining in the game, the pressure was on for both sides. With a full crowd in front of the Dog Pile net, Kai was able to get a head on the ball and directed it towards Taiyo who was able to trickle it past the goalie for the 1-0 lead.
A few minutes later Alex was able to hustle back to the United’s net and made a huge save, kicking the ball off to the side, preventing the Dog Pile from tying the score.
With just minutes remaining, Colby scored an insurance marker, celebrating it with one of his famous happy dances.
Star of the game went to Diego Bajger — his first time in net and he walks away with his head held high and a clean sheet.
United’s last game of the regular season is in Vancouver this Saturday, Feb. 21.
U15 boys
Another unseasonably beautiful day at Kinni-kinnick was the perfect setting for the Thunderbirds final home game of the season last weekend.
The visiting Vancouver FC Vikings started the day in a three-way tie for second with NV Torrent and the T-Birds, and though their last match in the city ended in a draw, this day would belong to the home team.
Casey Baines opened the scoring with a pure striker’s instinct as he pounced on a loose ball and one-timed it into the back of the net from 20 yards out.
The Vikings scored the equalizer after Isaac Oka was beaten to a rebound following an initial stop of a hard blast at close range.
The Thunderbirds didn’t shrink, though, and soon replied. Nicholas Davis, having a strong game on the wing, neatly took control of a throw-in, turned and fed Jake Benner, who steered it into the goal for the 2-1 lead.
The second half featured some of the finest passing of the year with combinations including every member of the squad, making for happy coaches.
The defence continued its strong play, anchored by Will Magnussen and Quin Huibers, with newly converted defender, speedy Jamie Mundy, looking like a vet of the backline.
Isaac drew gasps from the crowd with an outstanding stop that seemed destined for the top corner.
With the T-Birds dominating possession through their sharp pressing and passing, and buzzing the edge of the Vikings area, Cole Schutz was stopped by a great save and Simeon Campbell went close with an audacious overhead kick before Noah Woodin took the ball at the top of the box, found a yard of space and calmly hit it high and wide of the keeper for a sweet goal and the 3-1 victory.
