Disney Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament

This event brought us back once more to the site of our excellent challenge the prior year. This time we were coming in as one of the favorites. The stage was set, and even though our team was very tired from such a busy previous few months at the high level tournaments, and we were fielding a team of only 11 players, due to suspensions and other commitments, we were quite successful, making the finals after disposing of Canadian Champions Royal de Beauport 4-0, Wappinger Chiefs 9-0, TST of Denmark 9-1, and once again Royal de Beauport 5-0 in a semi-final match. The final was set for a match between RSL Players Club and FUTSOC USA at stadium field No.1.

The next morning one additional player was able to join us, making our total of 12 players for the final match. This was most fortunate as the weather continued to scorch at nearly 100 degrees F, and we had made no substitutions until this day of they final. The match was fierce and highly technical in nature, as both teams possessed ample skills, speed and tactical awareness to create problems for each other throughout the match. The score started 1-0 in our favor on a spectacular shot by Gonzalo De Mujica, which was followed up minutes later by a scramble in front of the net, and a rebound / ricochet goal which favorably (and most unfortunately) entered our goal. Numerous post shots and crossbar near goals allowed the game to stay close, and even though we had jumped ahead with a second half goal, they tied it up and forced an overtime scenario, which ended equally tied, so that we conclude with the much dreaded PK’s. Our boys were cramped up, and severely dehydrated, from virtually no rest (nor substitutions) during five games in four days in hostile weather. However, no excuses, simply explanations, the match was decided in favor of our excellent opponent, as they converted on 4 shots, to our 3, for a final score of (2-2) 4-3.

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