After a jaunt down to the sunny south of carolina, TUSA Porto's travelling bandwagon reappeared in the Northern heights of Carolina, in the Efland region at West Ten Soccer Complex.
Up agains the green and white were TFC Red Bulls who started their campaign with a 14-1 thumbing, but since had gone 2 for 2 in the win column.
For only the second time this season, Coach Richie had a full squad to select from, with Remi reappearing after injury.
As the whistle went to start the game, TFC came out the blocks fast. Putting on show a passing and moving masterclass that left Porto a little shocked as the Red Bulls moved the ball well and got into the Porto area often. If not for the GK of Danny, Defensive strength of Nick, Matt and Andy and also some woeful finishing, the Red Bulls could have been out of sight after 10 minutes. It was TFC that did open the scoring, but not from a silky passing move, but more of a hit and hope long ranger. With the TUSA Porto defensive strength keeping TFC at bay, it was a 20 yard looping shot that beat a full stretched Danny. One became two not long after with a near mirror image goal when again, the striker was not closed down quick enough and a looping shot beat Danny. At this point, the Porto boys were still finding it hard to get a foothold in the game. Whereas TFC were showing a clear strong team ethic, the Porto boys were relying heavily on individual brilliance in the shape of Remi and the runs from Cole in midfield. Against the run of play, it was one of these moments of brilliance that got the Porto boys off the ropes and back in the fight as Remi managed to work his way through the TFC defence and drill a shot into the net. With this, Porto began to have a bot more belief and confidence. The boys started to link their passes and move off the ball, to which TFC were caught unawares. With the half ticking down, shots from Max, Cole, Kevin, Remi and David all just failed to find the back of the net. HT 1-2
As the second half got underway, Porto were now in the battle. As with the 2 previous morning games, finally the lads woke and started working harder for each other. Plays down the wings started to become more dangerous and the defence were finally getting a rest from the attacks. The hard work paid off, when a well worked move from Kevin, sent Max through on goal only to see his shot parried into the path of Ryan who followed up well to slot the ball into the net. With this, Porto were looking good to go on and get the winner and almost could have when Kevin went through one on one with the keeper, but was thwarted by the speedy midfielder tracking back.
Then the sucker punch. With all the graft and effort the Porto players had put into getting back in the game and with only 5 minutes to go, the TFC red bulls got a lucky break when a defensive clearance could only be ping pong'd around the box until finally it fell to a TFC player who hit the ball low and hard past a full stretched Danny in goal. FT 2-3
Coaches Corner
It was a shame that the boys could not hang on for the draw as they did show much graft in the game. As I said to the boys though, you can't just play for 20 minutes and expect a result. TFC played for the full 50 working hard for each other, passing and moving and staying firm to the task. We can learn a lot form them and look to use that as motivation moving forward. We are close, VERY CLOSE!! it is coming and as I always say, you can only get better from playing a better opponent.
We can take heart that we are still gelling, still getting to know one another and with a added focus, desire and want, we will get our rewards
Coach Richie, over and out!
