Saturday, May 25, 2013
WINNIPEG, Manitoba – The Thunder Bay Chill started the 2013 PDL season with a thrilling 2-1 win against WSA Winnipeg on Saturday night on a 90th-minute penalty kick taken by Paul Dillon after Godwin Addai was taken down in the penalty area at the Winnipeg Soccer Complex.
The Chill dominated most of the play in the first half but went to the locker room tied 0-0. WSA Winnipeg had a couple of good scoring chances too, on balls that were mishandled by the Chill defenders, who were not accustomed to the field turf at the indoor facility at the University of Manitoba Soccer Complex.
Four minutes after the break, Thunder Bay’s Jose Altamirano found himself all alone inside the penalty area. He dribbled to Winnipeg goalkeeper Tyson Farago’s right, then stopped and dribbled back around and placed the ball into an empty net.
The Chill continued to press looking for an insurance goal. However this resulted in a few WSA Winnipeg counters that resulted in good scoring opportunities. In the 87th minute, WSA was rewarded after earning free kick from just outside the Chill’s penalty area. Danto Moses placed a perfectly taken free kick around the wall and had the 350 Winnipeg fans in attendance thinking that they had at least secured a point.
The Chill continued pressing, however. and Nolan Intermoia almost restored the lead in the 89th minute, only for his shot to find the inside of the post and bounce away to safety. A minute later Godwin Addai was taken down in the penalty box and the Chill were awarded a penalty kick that Paul Dillon made no mistake on to give the Chill their first win of the season.
The Chill outshot WSA 10-8 in a rough affair that included 22 fouls (10 by Chill) and two cautions issued to WSA Winnipeg by referee Hernan Vivanco .
The two teams play again tomorrow at the same field at 5 p.m CT.