Any comments from those in attendance?? Possession?? Shots on goal?? Corners?? Cards??
It was a bitter cold night for the game between Jesuit and Carencro. The traffic was terrible, and when I finally arrived it was about 6 minutes into the game. I believe the game started around 7:05 pm.
This was my 1st time seeing a match @ Cro. There was a big crowd in the stands. Cro’s fans were in full force and many JHS fans made the trek- I imagine most of them were parents or the like. Throughout the game, I noticed soccer players from NISH, Acadiana, and eventually Teurlings. Yes, the Croleaders were there also trying to pump up the fans with their cheers and t-shirts being tossed into the crowd. They were even selling Cro ’06-’07 District Champs Soccer t-shirts (and sweatshirts maybe?) in a rainbow assortment of colors…
I was not a fan of Cro’s uniforms. With the numbers in a weird shade of yellow, it was practically impossible to tell who was who on their team. (At least at the TC @ Episcopal and OC @ TC games earlier on I had a program to help me out.) With that in mind and the fact that it was 6 or so minutes into the match when I arrived, here’s what I saw for the most part:
13m- JHS 3 fed a nice ball to JHS 17 in the box but the GK beat him to it and covered it up.
18m- JHS 10 (rough ‘n’ tough playing defender) had a free kick outside the box and his shot went right to the GK.
21m- JHS ? fed another ball to JHS 17 in the middle of the box, but it was again taken by GK.
23m- JHS 10 took another free kick out the box and this sweet kick went to JHS 17 again and his header went wide left of the goal.
24m- This is when I started to notice how intense and physical the game was beginning to become.
26m- Finally, one Cro crossed to another Cro and had a good opportunity but offsides was called.
27m?- JHS 4 was breaking down the right sideline and eventually took a nice shot and this sailed past the GK for JHS 1st goal. Inexplicably, he circled around the field with much jubilation and came by the Croleaders and fans in stands and taunted them. (This reminded me of the BM @ F’bleau playoff game where BM’s #2 came by the stands and flicked off everybody after BM #12 scored the team’s 2nd goal.)
27m- Cro 15 took a shot around the top of the box but really didn’t seem to get all of his foot on it and the ball went right to the GK.
28m- Cro ? took a free kick out of the box that went right to the GK.
29m- JHS 12? Took a shot out of the box that went right to the GK.
32m- JHS 5 (Stephen Duncan) fed a good ball to JHS 18 (“Baby Mullins;” GK’s younger bro) who took a shot in the box that went to GK.
33m- JHS ? took a corner kick that managed to find its way in the box to JHS 10 who did a little toe flip shot that deflected off a defender who was guarding the left post and then it ended up in the GK’s hands.
34-38m- This is when I went to check out the facilities and admire the colorful t-shirts for sale.
39m- JHS 5 (Duncan) took a shot out of the box that went wide right.
Halftime Jesuit 1-0 Carencro: It seemed like JHS had the ball on Cro’s side of field 75-80% of the 1st Half. JHS had lots of pressure with good set pieces and vision. JHS defense was practically unbendable.
2nd Half started around 8:03 pm.
41m- Cro ? earned a YC for a takedown I believe.
42m- JHS ? fed a nice ball to JHS ? whose header sailed high; offsides called anyway.
47m- JHS 10? on backline didn’t play the ball as he was feeling pressure from Cro ? in the box and Cro was awarded an indirect kick in the box. They squandered this opportunity when the Cro guy tried to play the ball to someone else at top of box and JHS defense cleared.
49m- JHS 6 earned a YC for taking down Cro ? who was breaking toward the goal with the ball. Their free kick at top of box was crossed to Cro 24? whose shot went wide left.
53m- JHS 2 took a shot at top of box that went to GK.
55m- JHS ? throw-in made it to JHS 18 (“Baby Mullins”) in front of net and his shot went right to GK; offsides called again.
61m- JHS 2 had a sweet cross to JHS 4 in the box who took the gift and shot high somehow.
64m- JHS ? was breaking along right sideline and his shot went just right of the net; I believe the GK got a fingertip on it as he dove to make sure it didn’t sneak in.
65m- JHS 3 took a corner kick that made it to JHS ? whose header was deflected over the crossbar by the GK as he had to jump high to save the goal.
66m- JHS 4 scored his 2nd of the night, this time off of the corner kick awarded from previous play.
With a 2-0 lead, this is about the time when JHS started playing 5 on the backline I believe.
71m- JHS 4 fed a nice cross in the box but the defense cleared.
72m- JHS ? took another corner kick that made it to JHS ? for yet another header that went to the GK.
73m- Cro ? throw-in made it to Cro ? eventually in the box whose easy lob-shot went to GK.
76m?- JHS 14 and Cro 23 both earned YC for shove match I believe. Cro 23 extended hand to shake and make up, but JHS 14 ignored the offer at 1st and then eventually shook hands I believe after ref said something.
78m?- JHS 5 (Duncan) performed his best Zidane impression. I think he and the defender were frustrated and/or tangling arms with each other. Duncan broke free and as play was far away from them and he was starting to walk away, he thrust his left elbow backwards hitting the Cro defender right in the face. He fell. It seemed everybody saw it except the ref. If I thought the Cro student supporters were shouting/using expletives before, now there was not only them screaming bloody murder and talking of kicking his butt, even the Cro parents and/or adults were also slinging F-bombs all around. It really was an unnecessary action that seemed ill-placed and out of frustration- I mean, they had already exhibited total dominance and were winning the game 2-0. Knock-downs/push-downs/hard fouls are one thing, but an intentional cheap elbow to the face…especially as a Senior leader on the team, one should use more discretion and be an example for JHS younger players who look up to you. After what seemed like an eternity, the ref finally sorted it all out and issued Duncan a YC.
Final Jesuit 2-0 Carencro.
Gosh, this consistent 2-0 victory dance of JHS seems eerie. I thought overall the ref called a good match and maintained control of the game. When two players were potentially getting heated, he would step between the two to separate them and calm them down.
Cro would at times seem to have some good starts to setting up different plays, but did (or could do) very little to finish off the plays where it mattered. It was as if they were hoping JHS defense would somehow make a mistake that they might be able to take advantage of. They really just didn’t have much pressure in the 2nd Half.
I don’t know why I went against my instinct and thought (really hoped) Cro would win 2-1…In flat3’s “Predict DI Playoff Results” thread, I picked JHS to win it all after beating Laffy in semis, but in flat3’s “Semifinals Prediction Competition” thread, I changed my mind for no apparent reason (except that JHS wasn’t scoring much in the previous playoff games) and hoped Cro would win.
Oh well…Still a fun game to watch and I’m glad I attended. Hopefully, my prediction for a St. Paul’s victory will unfold tomorrow when I go to that game!
M Unit