10:00pm |  It was a classic tale of two halves at Jordan yesterday afternoon as Kobi Johnson’s 62^nd minute goal proved the game winner for the Wilson Bruins, 2-1.  Aside from shots on goal, the statistics were eerily similar, but it was a halftime adjustment and the subsequent switching of sides that changed the match.

The first half featured end-to-end action with a conservative whistle and Jordan working on the half of the field with more grass than dirt.  The Panthers came in with a good game plan of playing more volleys and crosses to work overtop the Wilson defense instead of working straight though them, and it resulted in three shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. Jordan got the first true opportunity in the 13^th minute when Rafael Haros sent a volley to Cecillo Zarate who put it just wide of goal. 

The Bruins answered almost immediately and made theirs count.  Chris Skovgard collected a bouncing ball about ten yards outside of the box and turned quick.  Miguel Padilla made a straight run to the nearside post and Skovgard sent a beautiful through ball.  Padilla lunged with his right foot and one-touched it home to the far post.

The Panthers had their own answer ready and continued to work high.  In the 20^th minute Juan Mondragon beat the pushed up Wilson defenders to a bouncing ball at the top of the box.  He bounced a hard shot off the crossbar, but Haros was in the right place at the right time and he sent the rebound home for the equalizer.

With the score tied at the half, Wilson coach Mark Hervin preached to his players the importance of working high and wide instead of straight, just like Jordan did to them in the first half.  “We’re at our best when were pressuring the other team.  When we sit back we play to their strengths.”

The Bruins listened to their coach, and if you can think of a way to earn an opportunity to score, Wilson did it in the second half.  Now on the nice green side of the field, the visitors out shot the hosts 11-to-3 in the second half.  Jake Armstrong’s long throw in game and service off set pieces were both powerful and accurate.  With ten fouls on Jordan in the half, the Bruins were able to keep the Panthers on their heels.

After more than 20 minutes of pressure and frustration, Johnson came off the bench and got involved in the 62^nd minute.  The diminutive forward sat on the back post when Armstrong sent his long throw in from down near the corner.  No one marked Johnson, and he didn’t have to move his feet to send his first goal of the season home with his head.

Late Wilson fouls gave Jordan chances off the set piece in the waning minutes, but as Hervin said as the final whistle blew, “that’s why you have a keeper.”

Goaltender Adrian Hirt made a game clinching save in the final minute on a free kick from Luis Noriega.  Hirt read the ball as it cleared the four-man wall and made a break to his right side.  With the ball headed to the top shelf, Hirt leapt and deflected it high over the crossbar.  After the resulting corner kick the referee blew the final whistle.

“On a poor field against a fantastic team, I’m extremely pleased with our performance,” said Hervin.

Wilson will face Cabrillo at home on Friday while Jordan entertains Lakewood.