Photos By Steve Dachman
The Moore League boys’ soccer match between Wilson and Jordan yesterday afternoon was so evenly played that when the Bruins broke the scoreless tie in the 67th minute, you knew Jordan would have an answer. They did, a 68th minute goal.
However, Wilson had the last laugh in this battle of attrition and Frank Nagao’s header in the 70th minute proved to be the game winner, 2-1, as the Bruins improved to 3-0 in league, and the Panthers fell to 2-2.
Wilson held the edge in possession and shots (22-to-6) but the true threats on goal were about even. Back-to-back corners in the 10th minute—and a bouncing ball in the box off another set piece—were Wilson striker Tony Gonzalez’s best attempts at goal, but all sailed high over the crossbar. The active Jordan defense led by Eric Zarate and Maciel Aviles kept the Wilson chances inside the box to a minimum, and the Panthers got out on the counter attack twice, in the 31st and 34th minute. Yet, the best go at goal was Rafael Haros’ long rolling shot that went wide of the goal mouth.
The second half started much like the first with Wilson taking shots on goal (two in the first four minutes) and Jordan taking fouls. The Panthers had eight in the first half and took three quick ones in the second. The rough play continued and turned a little sloppy as the Jordan midfielders grew tired and racked up 14 fouls in the second half to go along with four yellow cards in last 40 minutes.
The set pieces piled up (much to the taller Bruins’ advantage) and the service from Alexis Marin to Daniel Herrera (right) turned into the first goal. In the 67th minute after coming off the bench Herrera made a hard charging run up the middle. From the left midfield Marin saw the seam to the back post and placed a perfect ball at Herrera’s feet. The forward flicked the ball back to the near post and it deflected off a Jordan defender for the score.
Jordan was quick to respond as Haros earned a free kick a minute later and took the direct try for himself. The ball ricochet off the Wilson wall, and Haros took another swing. The ball took a hard bounce to the box and went just over DJ Koenen’s head when he jumped to clear it. Behind Koenen near the top of the box, Jordan Forward Juan Mondragon did a nice job to seal his defender off with his body. He controlled the bouncing ball with his chest, let it bounce one more time, and fired a bullet past the diving Wilson goaltender Adrian Hirt.
After all the effort, the tie resumed, but Wilson continued to draw fouls and inch closer to the Jordan goalmouth. Finally in the 70th minute, Anthony Ford put a nice service into a big group about ten yards out. Nagao out-jumped everyone on the field and powered the ball into the netting with his head. The spectacular goal took the remaining wind out of the Jordan sail, and the Panthers didn’t get a shot on goal in the final ten minutes.
“I’m very pleased with the boys because their character was tested today,” said Wilson coach Mark Hervin. “They could’ve shut down after giving up that goal late, but they came back down on the other end and won it against a good team.”
“I could see it coming right for me,” said Nagao of the winning service from Ford. “I just went up and got it. I can jump.” When asked if he is the premier leaper on the squad, the diminutive midfielder pointed to Koenen, who stands well over six foot, “I can leapfrog DJ.” Koenen confirmed the claim with a nod.
After an embarrassing loss to Millikan in the league opener, Jordan has slowly improved and coach Juan Rodriguez is pleased with what he’s seen recently. The Panthers travel to Lakewood and Wilson travels to Cabrillo on Friday.
OTHER SCORES:
Poly 1, Cabrillo 0
The Jackrabbits got a goal from senior Joshua Gamboa and held off a late Jaguars charge.