FC77 Rangers 4, Symmetry Northwest 3

(Scorers: Radigan 10’, Ingersoll 45’, Ntini 60’, McConnachie 75’ – pk)

21 October 2007

Four – Number of goals scored.
Three – Number of goalkeepers Rangers used.
Two – Number of oversized goalie boxes.
One – Gutsy win.

The Rangers returned to their winning ways with another strong performance at the Montessori Earth School against Symmetry Northwest. Last season’s match resulted in a 2-2 tie and the contests have been historically close, if not always in the Yellow and Black’s favor. Crisp autumn skies and a slick field provided a perfect October venue for men’s soccer and the throngs—oh yes, we had throngs of fans—were treated to another fine victory. Junior Ranger Appreciation Day was celebrated with treats for all the younger FC77 fans, namely, Champion’s League soccer trading cards. After all, what four year old girl wouldn’t want Gianluca Zambrotta’s Barcelona card? (In mint condition, no less!)

It only took about ten minutes before Malvern Ntini, returning to his striker role, harassed and haunted the Symmetry back line. A dazzling dribble along the right edge of the huge goalie box, two jukes at the end line, and a laser pass across the goal mouth found Aaron Radigan go to ground to plant the shot into the net, much to the delight of the PBRmy. Play continued for another twenty minutes or so before tragedy found FC77. Keeper Steve Berg, throwing himself at a Symmetry cross to punch out the clearance, smashed heads with the lunging striker and went to the pitch in obvious agony. Rangers, thinking play had been stopped for a head injury, picked up the ball…only to be called by referee Ahmed Shams for a penalty kick. Steve’s lip was notably torn and bleeding. Play was stopped for four minutes as Steve gamely tried to self-bandage his mouth and continue, but it was obvious that his day was done. (Steve later was treated at an urgent care facility with four stitches.) Surrendering the gloves and keeper shirt to Jim Snyder, Symmetry converted the dubious penalty and leveled around the half-hour mark. Undaunted, ‘Gers continued our brand of spirited play and raced the ball down the right side, drawing the Symmetry defense toward that half of the field. The cross was expertly dummied by Dan Holstein, allowing Sean Ingersoll to run onto the pass, take a touch, and slot a left-footer inside the near post. Sean honored the strike with a Natasha Kai goal celebration* and the squad went into the break up 2-1.

That little bit of luck that has escaped the team for most of the season continued into the second half. Malvern added a third tally to the score line (as well as his own season strike count) around the hour mark with another dribble and shot that appeared to bounce off the Symmetry stick minder and a defender before coming to rest in the net. Not content to sit back and wait the match out, Rangers tried to capitalize on corners—Matt Muralt had a leaping header go wide—and free kicks, as the Symmetry keeper was forced to stretch for a ricocheted shot that was headed under the crossbar but for his efforts. James McConnachie was tripped up in the box approximately fifteen minutes later by a clumsy, hacking tackle and took Rangers to the Charity Spot for the first time this season. Despite Symmetry’s baiting protestations, James coolly stepped up and sent the keeper left before dumping the ball into the net for his fifth goal this season. Up 4-1 with less than thirty minutes to go, Mark Vogel graciously offered to let Jim go back into the field and assume the keeper’s duties…and was soon put to the test when Shams awarded another Symmetry penalty. Guessing correctly that the shooter would go to the left, Mark just missed the stop by inches. A legitimate, arcing shot around minute 85’ put the opposition within a goal of tying and forced ‘Gers to dig in and hustle on defense for a tense final five minutes. The final whistle was greeted with cheers and sighs as another characteristically close match concluded. The defense was tenacious as usual and the midfield worked well to come back and shape up on defense when called.

Special thanks to Jim Snyder for accepting the keeper’s gloves when asked and for Mark Vogel to selflessly come in and close out the match. It is that kind of teamwork that makes our team so cool.

That and the Champion’s League trading cards. Anybody want to trade a Rooney for my Materazzi…?

* - If you were not at the US National Women’s Team exhibition against Mexico the previous Wednesday and sitting in sections 113 or 114, you likely have no idea what this means.

Sean Ingersoll