2011 Super Y-League North American Finals
Monday, December 5, 2011. TAMPA, Fla. – For the second day in a row the Central Jersey Spartans faced stern opposition and the circumstances remained the same, win or go home. The Spartans squared off with Kendall in one of the U13 Boys semifinals and they would leave as 3-0 winners in a fast and physical match.
Kendall played fantastic in its opening matches in the tournament, highlighted by dynamic offensive play. Central Jersey had to be up to the task.
“I told them to just to get the ball down and play,” Central Jersey Head Coach Michael Nigro said. “We knew that they were a very talented team, individually, and we just needed to get numbers back behind the ball and not dive in.”
Both teams came out eager to test each other and Kendall would be the first team to do that in the opening minutes. Striker Andy Alvarez hit a laser at the Spartan net which Joe Bruno did well to tip over the bar. Alvarez looked active and dangerous early for Kendall, but unfortunately he was carrying and injury and his minutes were limited in the match.
The match became even more difficult for Kendall in the 5th minute when the referee adjudged Alex Alegria to have handled the ball in the box, awarding Central Jersey a penalty kick. Chaz Burnett stepped up to the spot and slotted home the shot in the low left corner to give Central Jersey a 1-0 lead.
Following the goal both sides really struggled to grab hold of the match. The ball was mostly jammed in the midfield as both backlines thwarted many offensive chances.
In the second half things began to change for Central Jersey. The Spartans began to find their groove, possessing and passing the ball much better. Jalil Blalock’s pace and Burnett’s bullish presence on the ball began to cause Kendall problems.
Burnett’s pressure would pay off in the 39th minute, when a failed clearance by Kendall’s backline fell to his feet. Burnett blew by the defense for a one on one at goal and he calmly passed the ball into the net for a 2-0 advantage.
Central Jersey would go on to grab a third in the 67th on a fine Craig Lenczycki finish. That’s the way the match would finish, 3-0 to the Spartans and a trip to the final booked.
After a convincing win, the Spartans plan on using a similar approach for the final.
“We’re going to come out with the strongest team we’ve got, see if we can score early, and just knock it around and play the game on the ground,” Nigro said.
In the other semifinal the Ottawa Fury met the Brandon Flames. The Flames would notch two in the first half and one in the second to book their place in the final. Julian Hall recorded a goal and an assist for the Flames.
