USL Game Report
Saturday, January 28, 2012
BRADENTON, Fla. – A pair of second-half goals by Emmanuel Elomabor and Tomoyuki Kinoshita gave Team Veloce a 2-1 victory against Team Vision in their opening scrimmage at the USL PRO Combine presented by Umbro on Saturday morning.
Both sides took their time getting into the game, but it was Veloce that created the first good chance as Sean Coleman skipped past his marker into the penalty area, only to have his shot blocked behind for a corner. Coleman got a second opportunity from there, forcing a good save from Billy Hale who parried to safety.
Vision also had chances, Nick Millington’s low drive from 30 yards being well saved by Robert Mueller in the 26th minute, and Mueller also did well to parry aside Stephen Roche’s free kick from four minutes later. The former Austin Aztex U-23 goalkeeper had a solid performance in goal, making a number of good saves.
Vision remained on the front foot for the remainder of the half, with Josh Northey knifing into the penalty area’s right side and cutting back to Travis Wall, only for Julian McNamara to do just enough to block the effort. Wall and Marousek then combined well at the top of penalty area, only for Mueller to again be in position to make the save.
Team Veloce had the first chance following the break, McNamara heading over disappointingly after a well-delivered corner found him alone in the center of the penalty area. Wall then had a big chance for Vision in the 45th minute, but his curling shot went wide of the left post.
Veloce broke through in the 54th minute as Elamobor beat the offside trap, moved into the left side of the penalty area and beat the goalkeeper with a low finish into the right corner. Eight minutes later it was 2-0, Kinoshita stealing possession in the Vision defensive third before moving in and curling a fine left-footed shot into the left corner of the net, and Elomabor could have made it three off an errant back-pass, only for his first touch to take the opportunity away from him.
Vision pushed to get back in the game, Ryan Roushandel seeing his snap-shot from a free kick well saved by Mueller in the 73rd minute, and three minutes later from a corner Roushandel's deflected shot found the back of the net. Gracia had a late chance for an equalizer, only to shoot wide, while Mueller saved again from Millington in the final minute to preserve his side’s win.