USL Game Report
Saturday, January 28, 2012
BRADENTON, Fla. – Gibson Bardsley scored twice in the second half to lead Team Geometra to a 2-0 victory against Team GT in the opening scrimmage of the USL PRO Combine presented by Umbro as his side put together an impressive performance throughout.
Bardsley came on at halftime for Geometra, and combined well with fellow front players Henrique Sousa and Juan Nino. He finished well from 15 yards in the 55th minute after finding space on the right side of the penalty area, shooting home into the left corner of the net.
Geometra had the ball in the back of the net again six minutes later, only for Rilwan Salawu’s goal to be ruled out for offside, and Mike Azira shot wide after Bardsley and Sousa had combined well to create an opening.
Sousa and Bardsley combined again with three minutes to go, Sousa sliding a well-weighted ball to find Bardsley’s run into the left channel before Bardsley lifted a nice chip over the advancing goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Geometra had opened more brightly, with Charlie Romero getting their first chance in the third minute only to be denied by Team GT goalkeeper Philip Klein. Using Azira and Jarod Stigall as pivots in a five-man midfield, Geometra continued to carry the play, with Azira driving a shot off the crossbar from the top of the penalty area in the 19th minute and Will Moorad being denied by Klein two minutes later.
Justin Hay and Nino also had chances for Geometra, with Hay shooting just over from 20 yards and Nino scuffing his shot from just outside the penalty area, allowing Klein to save easily.
Chances were more scarce for Team GT, with Geometra goalkeeper Phil Boerger rarely being called into service in the first 40 minutes. Kenny Sacramento’s shot wide with two minutes to go before the break was the clearest shooting opportunity GT had.
After the break their best chance came late on to Dion Peters, but his shot was smothered by Boerger with two minutes to go. Overall, the chemistry Geometra showed proved too much as GT struggled to find cohesiveness.