Manual 3 St. Xavier 2 (7th Region Final)

[Tigerpride94]

 

[Purple88]

On 10/16/2021 at 1:48 PM, Tigerpride94 said:

 

This was a great game!

X came out really pushing the ball up on Manual.  They got a couple corner kicks produced from that and on about the 2nd or 3rd corner, a Matthew Azzara #10 for X had a great ball into the box that Kendrick Flaherty got a head on and put it by the Manual keeper.

It would go to the half with X up 1-0.  Another important point was the wind was very strong and blew from the X goal (in the first half) towards the Manual goal.  So the Manual goalie could only kick it near midfield due to the wind.  That reversed in the second half.  

Manual came out inspired and started making connecting passes into the offensive zone just above the box.  This effort produced several free kicks and set pieces.  Manual's first goal by Samuel Newport was one of these set pieces where the X goalie just couldn't get a read on a deflection or not and just slipped by him.  The next Manual goal was from a penalty kick by Joseph Wilkie.  Manual final goal of the game came from another free kick where striker Liam Spurlock got on the end of a nice ball in the box and deflected the ball over the outstretched arm of the keeper.

X would regroup down 3-1 and play with a lot of pace and pressure.  Matthew Azzara earned a St X penalty kick and made it count to pull to 3-2 with about 7 minutes to go in the game.  X tried to get the equalizer multiple times, but Manual keep Calderon made some nice saves and Manual played punt most of the last 7 minutes and was just enough.

Great season by St. X!  I hope Manual can keep going, but I understand they now must travel to #1 North Oldham.  Good luck Crimsons!!!