Almost like a Hurricane travelling towards mainland USA, this game was seen coming from a far. After watching Select destroy all that stood in front of them with double figure score lines, Porto knew this was the game of games for their season. But, not to be scared by the impending threat that was Carolina Select, Coach called for a win from the boys.
The week leading up to the game was filled with tactics and game plans that the boys would need to keep Carolina Select at bay and also catch them on the counter attack. Make no mistake, this would be the toughest week as it not only pushed the boys into new territories, but also challenged Coach Richie in ways he had never planned before.
As we turned up to the old strawberry field, which resembles more like a beach, the boys were ready, if not a little nervous. This however soon dispelled as the game commenced and kicked off. As predicted, Carolina Select were looking to draw Porto into their half and pick them off with their quick passing and moving game, but the game plan that the Porto boys had worked so hard on all week was holding fast and we were not willing to fall for Carolina's games. With a strong resolute shape, Carolina struggled to break through the Porto back line and started to get very frustrated at Porto not playing how they wanted us to play. With 10 minutes gone, the game was still 0-0, but Carolina finally managed to get through by a rare error on Porto's part. 1 quickly became 2 as Carolina came straight at Porto and caught them a little punch drunk from the opener. After the 2nd, Porto once again settled down and started to have belief that they could get goals as the game plan of drawing Carolina in and counter attacking was working and if not for a terrible playing surface, Porto may have gone in at half time with a very tight score line. Just before the whistle, Carolina notched a third to make the half time score 0-3
At half time, Coach expressed great pleasure in his witnessing of the game plan and how strong and disciplined we were being. However, the air of caution was also clear that we had to stay strong to our plan and keep going to get some goals that we rightly had earned.
With the awesome support of the parents, the Porto boys were fired up and ready for more.
The second half had a similar air about it as again the Porto boys were not being drawn into chasing down all the balls. The game again was very tight, but Carolina notched a 4th very early on. With this goal, Coach called for calm and focus and not to let heads drop. Porto kept going and as did the parents who were clearly the 9th man for the side. As the half ticked down, Carolina notched 2 more goals before a great solo effort from lone striker Kevin gave the Porto boys their just rewards and finished the game as the last goal scorers to leave the score 1-6.
Coaches Corner
This whole season has been a huge learning curve for the boys and myself and this game (for me) was a welcome challenge. As I said to the boys, come what may, we are all better for it. We did things in training that we would not of normally done and we looked at tactics and game plans in a new light. All this made us better and stronger going forward into our remaining games and for next year. A huge resounding well done!!
