Torchys Flame Out in 3-1 Loss to Cameron Road

Cameron Road put the heat on Torchys Sunday afternoon, covering them with their own spicy salsa of dazzling feet and gritty play to earn a 3-1 victory.  That’s two wins in a row for the suddenly surging Honey Badgers. A potent turnout of 12 increased to 13 after the game started as Cuyler was a special guest with trusty Hondo in tow. And Chris Vestre made a welcomed comeback after what seems like months letting his fingers do the talking on the local jazz-fusion-metallica guitar circuit.

Torchys were on the wrong side of an 11 v. 10 man match, so the cards were stacked against them from the get-go. Still, they proved a pesky opponent in the opening moments of the game with their tricky attacking play. But Cameron Road were also looking for goals, with Steve McKenna dropping deep to center midfield, but still finding time to surge forward a la Stevie G.

The first of many bizarre plays went down about 10 minutes into the first half. Spending some time up front, Chappy scrapped for an incoming ball inside the box but slipped as he went down with a defender on his back. The young referee called for a penalty on Torchys, but Chappy channeled his inner zen monk and waived off the call in a strange altruistic offering to the soccer gods. Claiming that he had slipped on his own, the CRU Captain hoped that the Soccer Gods would favor his honesty and award the team success 7 times over in the second half. Risky strategy, but it ultimately paid off.

Knowing that they are only capable of playing well from behind, CRU experienced the second bizarre play as Torchys whipped in a corner kick that clanged in off the back post. But it lit a fire under the belts of Cameron Road as they went in search of an equalizer. Gianluca wasted little time in ramping up the action as his Ibrohimovich-esque right-footed shot dragged inches wide from the far post. Charging up from the depths of his deep central position, El Jéfe also struck a long-range shot trying to pull the boys back into the game. Gianluca again came oh so close as Peterson won a thru-ball on the right hand side and patiently slid it across the face of goal. The Italian Stalion’s touch sent the ball just wide of the keeper’s net for the second time in as many minutes.

Jay was called on to make one good save, charging at a Torchys attacker and winning the ball back in the process.

As the second half started back up, Cuyler’s addition to the back line and the strain of playing with 10 men on a sunny afternoon started to wear on Torchys. And as Peterson sent Zoran in from the half line with a nice pass, the big fella was off to the races charging on goal with a few defenders to beat. With a patient stride, Stripy meandered his way to the front of the box, shook off the attempted tackles and tucked the ball away neatly in the near post for the tying goal. A great individual effort by Z, and proof that the Soccer Gods were listening.

At 1-1, the tide was turning in Cameron Road’s favor. Steve McKenna continued to threaten with his energetic runs down the left, Vestre and Peterson had a handle on the center of the pitch, and Way made some nice runs down the right hand side. With a lot of Torchys attacks being moped up near the center line by Luke and Billy, Cameron Road spent a lot of time attacking. And in one of those attacks, the ball bounced around inside the box with Cuyler and Billy playing ticky-tack a la Barcelona. Billy ended up with the ball on the right side and sent it into the back corner for the game winner.

Not resting on their laurels, CRU continued to attack. Before taking himself out of the game with an apparent Gooch Strain, Ryan Willis cranked out a 30 yard attempt in the center of the pitch. Chappy also came close as a great cross from the young Way Shong found him at the back post. Chappy’s facial sent the keeper back peddling and it was a bit controversial whether or not he was inside the goal when he latched onto the fading header. Nevertheless, no goal was given. Gianluca also earned some hustle points when he was taken down outside the box, but got up and played the advantage and almost created another goal.

But it was big Z who stepped up and scored an almost carbon copy of his first as he plowed his way through a few defenders and poked the ball home as he was going down. A big day for Stripy as he bagged two goals in the span of 30 minutes.

To round out bizarre afternoon, CRU was awarded a penalty kick as time was running out for an apparent hand ball inside the box. Disagreeing with the call, the tattoo-clad Torchys captain decided to perform a peaceful protest by sitting in front of the ball on the spot. After much deliberation by the officiating staff, his “Occupy the Box” movement earned them 15 yards as a free kick just on the edge of the box was proposed.

Cameron Road saw the game off with a few more attempts as Way sent Chappy another good thru0-ball that he danced onto earning a corner kick. As the final whistle blew, Cameron Road celebrated a wonderful second half effort from everyone. Scoring 3 goals and conceding none on their way to winning their second game in a row.

Man-of-the-Match: 2 great individual goals in 30 minutes earned Z this coveted award. The Big Man earned his pay today with a great effort.

Quote-of-the-Post-Match: Billy to one of the Blue Niles players warming up on the sidelines:
Billy: “Do you guys have a website?”
Blue Niles #1″ “what”
Billy” “Does your team have a website?”
Blue Niles #2: “no”
Billy: “We’ve got one.”

An apparent attempt to get inside their head and one-up them 7 days before next week’s big matchup. Well done son.