Dave Standish
Calgary Foothills FC picked up where they left off with a perfect weekend on their 2019 season opening. Wins of 1-0 in Seattle against the Sounders U23 squad and 2-1 in greater Vancouver over the TSS Rovers continues the winning streak of the defending United Soccer League 2 champions.
Two tough matches in less than 40 hours and a kickoff temperature in Burnaby, B.C, of 28 degrees didn’t deter Leon Hapgood’s new roster, but it was tough on their fitness.
“We were really battered and bruised,” said the coach after the win Sunday against the TSS Rovers. “They pinned us in a bit. It was our second game of travel. Playing the Sounders and TSS is not easy, and it was extremely hot, but we will take two wins on the road.”
The season opened in Seattle this past Friday night in a low scoring and shot battle until Dan Hayfield broke through on a free kick in the 85th minute.
Check out the video of the goal right here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxn8o55BbUk/?igshid=vdovzp2rvdv6
“It was a great finish from Dan,” Hapgood said. “I thought we were better on Friday with some better moments with the ball and then we got the goal.”
In Burnaby on Sunday, the Rovers, Calgary’s opponents next week as well, dominated the first and last parts of the game where then Foothills handled the middle portion.
Matteo Polisi opened the scoring on an excellent two touch sequence off a throw in that seemed to catch the boys in green off guard a bit.
“It was a tiring goal. When we conceded. it was what we needed to get into the game, we didn’t have enough on the ball,” said the coach. “It was a good recovery that initiated a good press.”
The press paid off as just four minutes later, Cory Bent created a turnover inside the 18 of the Rovers, which he fed to an open Willy Akio to flip the momentum. It broke the 213 minute scoreless streak of Rovers keeper Luciano Trasolini.
Goal @FoothillsFCU23 @theakio69 capitalizes on a mistake from the Rovers.
Coach Hapgood said the Rovers really pushed his squad hard.
“They assembled a good group of footballers, They are a good team, they will be pushing us in a tough division. Now we can regroup and focus on next weekend, maintain and build through the week. I was pleased with everybody.”
The Rovers record falls to 2-1-0 as they go behind Calgary to second place in the Northwest division despite their 5-0 win over Portland on Friday.
In other Northwest weekend action, Lane United from Salem, Oregon, tied the Sounders 1-1 on Sunday afternoon, and the Victoria Highlanders defeated the Portland Timbers U23 team 2-0.
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