Disappointing Effort Leads to Disappointing Result

How can something that started off so good ended up so bad?

That's the question that the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça '96 team are asking after taking a well worked 1-0 lead in the first 5 minutes of the game and then watch the game turn on it's head with some defensive errors and sluggish play that resulted in a 2-1 loss to Surrey/Guildford United.

With only 2 over aged call ups, Surrey controlled most of the match and pressured the Barça boys into making some poor decisions followed by some poor passes. Usually the strength of the team, Barça's possession game was virtually non existent and the unforced give-aways were at an all time high frustrating the coaching staff to no end.

Paul Serres open the scoring for Barça after some excellent possession passing and Barça could have added to that lead but their shooting legs and passion to score let them down. Soon after, Surrey got a break and scored on an offside play that was missed by the referee. Poor tackling and a Barça defense that kept getting caught square all game lead to the second goal and Barça was in for a fight that they would end up losing. Being outworked is not typical for the Barça boys but today was a good example that the hardest working team usually wins the game. In this case it became the truth! Barça are now a win, a tie and 2 losses.

Barça move on to play a very tough, tough Chilliwack Impact team that is walking through the competition at the moment and if they don't come out fighting, will be on the end of a very lopsided scoreline!

Barça Play Well But Still Lose

Anyway the game turned out this weekend, Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club was going to win!

The annual club grudge match took place this weekend with Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça taking on club mate Bayern in one of the most entertaining matches ever between these two teams. Both teams took the game seriously, both came to win, and both demonstated excellent control and passing. Unfortunately for the Barça boys, Bayern came out on top 2-0.

Bayern, with only 6 returning players from last season, are much improved side since last year and had 3 call up's from CMF Sparta in their line-up this weekend. Add the two other Sparta players from last year, Bayern are a new and improved team.

The first half was quite even with much of the play in Barça's half of the field. Bayern open the scoring on a corner kick with a botched assignment somewhere in the 18 yard box. The header that resulted in the goal was nicely taken and had little chance for Jake Sundar in goal who played strongly throughout.

Bayern soon made it 2-0 with an unfortunate bounce off a Barça player that popped out to the top of the 18 where an unmarked Bayern midfielder lofted a ball into the top corner leaving Sundar with no chance. Barça's Rashaun Rivers had a bicycle kick stopped but the half ended 2-0.

Barça came out flying in the second half and really dominated missing chance after chance . Michael Mobilio missed a half breakaway, Giordano Baldonero shot wide from the middle of the 18 and Kyle Jones worked his way into the 18 only to see his blast expertly saved by the Bayern keeper. Time ran out and Bayern escaped the winners.

Barça move to 1-1-1 and look to play Surrey United/Guildford United next weekend at Charles Best.

Barça Come Out of Gate with a Win and Tie

The Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça '96 team have started out the 2008/09 season with a win and a tie versus Abbotsford Mariners and Langley United, respectfully, in the tough U14 Select 'B' division. Barça beat Abbotsford 4-0 followed up with a 1-1 tie with Langley this past weekend. Both games were completely dominated by Barça and the scorelines really don't reflect the flow of play during the games. In their defense, both Abbotsford and Langley are predominately made up of players the same age as the Barça boys where as the Barça boys have played almost their entire youth experience playing older players.

The Abbotsford game was completely one sided as Barça dominated from start to finish. As with the Langley game, Barça went close, hitting the post and/or crossbar on 4 separate occasions and the Abbotsford goalie made quite a few impressive saves to keep the scoreline to 4. Giordano Baldonero, Ryan Mobilio, Rashaun Rivers and Michael Mobilio scored for Barça while Jake Sundar recorded his first shutout of the year.

Langley provide a tougher opposition (with 4 older players on their roster) but the time spent in the Langley end of the field was more than enough to get the 3 points easily. Langley's goalie made at least 10 good saves and like it always happens when one team doesn't take their chances at the one end, the other team comes down the field and scored as Langley did with their first shot of the game from 25 yards out. After a half in which Barça played almost the entire half in the Langley 3rd, they came off the field at half time down 1-0.

To the boys credit, they turned up the heat and finally got the goal that they had been threatening all half when Baldonero scored his second in two games on a rebound after some nice passing midway through the second half. Langley was now wobbling but Barça's poor finishing and killer instinct continued to let them down as seconds before the final whistle, Rivers hit the post with a header that left the game 1-1 and the Barça boys feeling let down and disappointed.

No time to hang heads as Barça now turn their attention to the annual grudge match with fellow club mates CMF Bayern '95's. It should be a good one!

Barça End Pre-season on the Right Track

With a busy off season for most of the boys after losing in the Coastal Cup to the eventual champions, the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça '96 team got back to work with a pair of pre-season tournaments in Washington State and Coquitlam. Both tournaments are seen as the two best tournaments in their respective state/province and two of the most competitive in the entire Pacific Northwest.

The Pacific Coast Challenge in Bellingham was to be a real huge test for the Barça boys as the teams from the states are usually a 1/2 year older (August '95 cutoff date) and with Barça '96 carrying 5 late born players who could play a year down (U12 division), the contests were always going to be tough. With the addition of new striker Rashaun Rivers to the team, Barça was missing Marchello Polis who was busy in Europe with his Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects team on tour. Barça called up Niko Sulentic from Burnaby to help out the boys in this tough task.

And tough it was as Barça '96, playing in their first competitive game since being knocked out of the U13 Coastal Cup in April, came up against the #2 team in Washington State in Eastside FC '95. although the scoreline completely flatters Eastside and does not do justice to the flow and play of the game, Barça played quite well and totally pushed Eastside to the end. Eastside scored late in the first half to go up 1-0 totally against the run of play. After a few squandered Barça chances Eastside made it 2-0 and forced a tired Barça team to go forward even more in the hunt for points and left Barça vulnerable at the back. More chances went a begging and Eastside score 3 more late in the game to make the scoreline 5-0. Barça went on to tie Washington Crossfire '95 1-1 and tie their last game 0-0 with WFC Rangers '95 to finish 3rd in the group and unable to advance to the semifinals.

Barça then hosted the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Annual Labour Day Tournament and invited the top teams from the lower mainland to participate. Barça were seeded in the toughest group with a tough Richmond Caledonia (3-0 win), Peace Arch United (2-0 win) and Point Grey United (2-0). Barça cruised through the group with 3 straight wins to advance to the semifinals while not allowing a goal the entire tournament in open play. Barça then moved on to play Whalley PSV in the semi's and lost their scoring boots. Without giving up a shot on goal, Barça had to head to the dreaded shootout and lost 4-3 in spot shots disappointingly settling for 3rd in the tournament. PSV went on to beat Lynn Valley in the finals to win the tournament.

All in all, it was a good way to head into the tough season ahead.