Super-20 Final Game Report
Friday, July 20, 2012
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Crew Juniors left it late, but Cole DeNormandie’s goal in the 86th minute gave the defending champions a 1-0 victory in Group D against Orlando City in their second game of the Super-20 League North American Finals at IMG Academy.
The Crew had controlled most of the second half, but weren’t able to convert one of their chances until the final five minutes. Bryce Rockwell was the creator, finding space on the left side to slide a low cross in to an unmarked DeNormandie, and the striker took a touch before firing into the left side of the net past a diving goalkeeper and defender.
“Until you get it, there’s always a doubt,” Crew coach Ian Gordona said. “I think tactically they were smart, they had guy up top that were good on the counter, I think we stuck to the game-plan, kept possession, and you build hoping that you’ve done the right things in practice, and I think that paid off come game-time.”
Orlando’s speed almost gave them the lead in the first 30 seconds as a great chance fell to Kejoun Benjamin off the rebound of Stephan Harvey’s shot, but Crew goalkeeper Jeff Gal was able to save to deny the Lions. The Crew’s first chance came in the eighth minute when Chris Davis made a good run down the right and sent a low cross into the penalty area, only for David Abidor to sky his sliding effort as he arrived in the penalty area.
The teams continued to exchange chances, Benjamin shooting straight at Gal in the 22nd minute and the Crew’s Zach Mason firing a volley that was blocked to safety by Jason Wellington. Orlando had a half-chance with three minutes to go before the break, but Chris Henderson wasn’t able to make clean contact after Rik Ruddick’s knock-down from a free kick, and the Crew’s Ross Friedman had a well-struck effort deflected away for a corner moments later.
The second half was much more one-way, with the Crew controlling the majority of the possession. They weren’t however, able to create much in the way of clear scoring opportunities, and Harvey could have done better just after the hour-mark with a free header for Orlando that was sent wide of the left post off a free kick.
Matt Walker had a big chance to give the Crew the lead in the 63rd minute after being played into the penalty area on a nice give-and-go, only to sky his shot over the bar. DeNormandie went close as well with 15 minutes to go, has close-range effort saved and the rebound cleared to safety, while Rockwell had a fine effort deflected agonizingly over the crossbar three minutes later. But in the end the pressure paid off, giving the Crew top spot in the division after Potomac defeated Alamo SC San Antonio 4-3 in the group’s other contest.
The day’s results mean the Crew is guaranteed a place in the semifinals with a draw in their final group game against Alamo FC, and a chance to claim their third successive championship. Gordona, however, isn’t expecting an easy game against the side from Texas.
“I think there’s a target on your back, and I think it would be the same for every age-group for any national champion, not just us,” Gordona said. “I think everyone’s aware of the success we’ve had over the last two years here, so they might pick up their game a little more than usual.”