Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça '96 win the U14 BCYSSL Cup!

CHAMPIONE, CHAMPIONE, OLE, OLE, OLE!!! - April 25, 2009

Coquitlam - The Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça '96 team are the inaugural U14 BCYSSL Cup Champions for 2008/09 season after a 1-0 win over Surrey/Guildford United last Saturday at Coquitlam Town Centre. The game pitted the two hottest teams down the stretch of the league season against each other with most of the Surrey Guildford team made up of boys born in 1996. The game was an exciting affair with tactical changes throughout by both teams who gave up very few goals throughout the cup run leading up to the finals.

Quarterfinals:

Barça trek to the finals started back on April 4th with a game vs. Surrey Selects. In previous matches the scorelines were more like hockey scores with Barça coming out ahead 4-3 and 5-3 respectfully. This time, Barça shored up their defensive woes but kept the offense and bested Surrey Selects 4-0.

Barça open the scoring when captain Trevor Hallam snuck forward from his right back position and met a cross from the left wing that flew across the front of the box and slammed it into the net. It soon became one way traffic as soon afterwards a terrific freekick from Marcello Polisi from 40 yards out from goal was met by the head of Rashaun Rivers at full flight that glanced off his head and over the charging Surrey goalie giving Barça a 2-0 lead heading into the half.

The second half saw more pressure from the Surrey Select team as they went forward looking for a goal to get them back in the game. Goalkeeper Jake Sundar and his defense of Anthony Martin, James Lynn, Matteo Gallaccio, and Paul Serres were having none of that!!! Jake made two outstanding saves and distributed the ball cleverly all game while the defense stood their ground clearing all danger that fell into the box.

With a heavy battle happening in the middle of the park, midfield Kyle Jones, Giordano Baldonero, Hallam and Polisi were winning all the 50/50's and finding holes between the Surrey defense sending Barça 's offense of Rivers, Michael Mobilio, Ryan Mobilio and Krsto Lulic into dangerous situations behind Surrey's defense. Two of those ball led to goals for Rivers to score his second (virtually killing off any hope of a comeback by Surrey) and M Mobilio who ran onto a terrific chipped ball by Jones over the Surrey defense that Mobilio professionally volleyed over the charging goalie. 4-buzz! Game set and match and on to the semi's.

Semi finals:

Barça next opponents were Langley United '96 who knocked off Abbotsford Mariners 4-2 after being down 2-0 at one point in the match. Langley had played Barça tough in the two previous meetings with Barça tying and winning the two encounters. The win being very, very close and the winner coming late in the game. This time the game wasn't close as Barça won 3-0, a score that really flattered the Langley team.

The game winner came 48 seconds into the match when Rivers ran onto a forward ball that a Langley defender miss played at centre and Rivers collected and neatly finished in the corner. Soon afterwards, Baldonero, M Mobilio and Polisi missed easier chances that kept Langley breathing. In fact Langley's best chance came late in the first half with virtually their first venture into the Barça 1/3 when a Langley midfielder let go from outside the 18 yard box that rang off the post and across the front of the goal. The half ended 1-0.

The second half saw the Langley goalie make at least 3 outstanding saves to keep them in the game. Barça continued to grind away and found the go ahead when Jones found fellow midfielder Baldonero with a cross field threw pass that Giordy pushed by the defenders and rifled into the top corner giving the Langley goalie no chance.

More heroics from the Langley goalie on Rivers and R Mobilio followed until a neat interchange and over lap between Rivers and M Mobilio sent Michael through who neatly finished again giving the goalkeeper no chance. Jake Sundar was called upon to make a few saves before it was over but nothing that he couldn't handle. 3-0 final!

Special mention should be made to Anthony Martin and Paul Serres for their outstanding defending in the game. Now it was off to the finals!

Finals:

Surrey/Guildford United got to the finals by beating league champions Coqutilam Metro-Ford Bayern 2-1 and North Shore Selects 1-0 in the semis. Matches between Barça and United during the season were split with a 2-1 win apiece.

The U13 Coastal Cup between Whalley PSV and Cliff Avenue (PSV won 2-1) may have been played on the Percy Perry Stadium on the field next to Town Centre West but many believe that the battle for the best team in the province was being held on the West field.

Both teams came out tentative in the first half as the midfield battled for supremacy preventing any real creativity to transpire. Barça defense, led by Anthony Martin were excellent once again as he, and the rest of the crew, allowed keeper Sundar to have a very easy time of it.

On the other end, Surrey/Guildford played a dangerous offside trap that caught the Barça forwards at least 20 times or so offside. Eventually that lead to their downfall. The United goalie was called upon to make a great save on Rivers (2) and force M Mobilio to strike his drive wide that could have settled the score and the game.

At half time, the Barça coaching staff adjusted a few bodies and tactics and refocused a frustrated Barça team that was becoming impatient.

The second half saw pretty much the same as the United goalie continued to make great saves and Barça forwards running offside. The high offsides eventually cost the United team the chance to push the game to overtime as with 10 minutes left in the game Rashaun Rivers broke through thanks to an excellent through ball from Trevor Hallam and he neatly slotted home the winner.

Defenders Martin, James Lynn, Paul Serres and especially Matteo Gallaccio shut down the United threat and Barça was able kill off the game from there on.

The final whistle was blown and the Barça boys celebrated a huge win and now can be called the BCYSSL Select League Champions!!!! Even injured defender Anthony McKave joined in the celebrations!

Barça's BCYSSL Select Cup Results:

Quarterfinals:

Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça 4-0 Surrey Selects

Semi Finals:

Langley United 0-3 Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça

Finals:

Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça 1-0 Surrey/Guildford United

Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça '96 players are: top row: Mr. Jones (head coach), Marcello Polisi, Paul Serres, Krsto, Matteo Gallaccio, Anthony McKave (injured), James Lynn, Anthony Martin, Rashaun Rivers
bottom row: Jake Sundar, Trevor Hallam, Kyle Jones, Michael Mobilio, Ryan Mobilio, Giordano Baldonero

missing: Mr. Baldonero (assistant coach)