The 麻豆社国产FC U-18 boys team is now within striking distance of the league championship in the highly competitive Gold division ofVancouver's youth soccer scene.
The 1-0 win over fourthplace West Vancouver on Sunday (Feb. 21) means that a victory in this Saturday's (Feb. 27) game againstLynnValleywill allow the local lads to catch or overtake currentleaderPointGrey for the crown.
On a beautiful sunny afternoon at Ambleside's turf field, a confident 麻豆社国产squad opened the scoring after only three minutes of play. Harrison Shrimpton deftly chipped a free kick over the West Vancouver defence to the charging Hans Schranz who, in his trademark style, trapped the ball skillfully near the goal line. With too sharp an angle to score and defenders almost on him he popped the ball over to the far post where an unmarked Chad Pereira made no mistake with his header past the keeper.
Through the rest of the game, 麻豆社国产FC sent wave after wave of players at the West Vancouver goal, but either their keeper made a great save or the ball sailed to the outside of the posts.
Great runs by Cam Baker down the right flank and penetrating advances by both Schranz and Pereira failed to produce another goal.
"The boys are being challenged because no team will give them an inch in this strong league," said head coach Rui Pereira. "They are having to earn every win and the coaching staff and management are justly very proud of their current standing."
Fortunately for 麻豆社国产FC, the early marker stood as Cameron Doherty collected yet another shutout with the assistance of his stalwart defence.
"They really have gelled as a team, and it's their great teamwork which produces these results, not individual efforts," said assistant coach Dave Robson.
The final game of the regular season kicks off at Quest University turf field at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 27).
