MIC Cup Game 4
vs EF Baix Ter
It came down to goal differential and FC Barcelona ended up scoring 6 on Begur, securing 1st place in our group. This meant we would now face 2nd place from group D, EF Baix Ter, a local Catalunya team.
We had them scouted well, and knew it would be a much different game then the one we faced vs Cherry Orchard last night. Spanish teams don’t believe in ‘anti-futbol’ and would never sit back. It would be an open game where we could once again display our tiki-taka possession and high defensive pressure identity.
It didn’t take long for the goals to start pouring in.
Neymar (Uly Llanez) took 4 players on, cutting in the box from left to right and finished side netting 4 minutes in for the 1-0 lead.
The ball was circulating well from right to left and left to right, waiting to find open space and deciding the proper time to attack. Efrain Alvarez kept pulling the strings and left Neymar 1 v 1 with the keeper for the next two goals in the 11th and 16th minutes – a lethal connection between the two flashy players.
Owen Zaldivar would score the 4th in the 23rd minute off a feed from Pooky (Cesar Rivera). This would be Owen’s first goal of the tournament after playing fantastic in the opening rounds on both sides of the ball.
Owen was not done as he capped another nice move from Pooky to put the ‘manita’ (5-0) on the scoreboard.
Lebron would come back on the last 10 minutes and finish up the scoring with 2 nicely taken goals that would take his tally to 7 in the tournament.
Final score: 7-0 over EF Baix Ter. Another convincing display of futbol that had the locals in L’estartit begging for more and jumping on our bandwagon with their support.
It was mini-professional time for the players. Time to hydrate, eat a healthy lunch, rest in their rooms for 2 hours, have a 30 minute walk-through training session, relax for an hour in their rooms, and mentally prepare for the quarterfinal showdown with a world power Academy … Ajax!
These articles are fantastic guys. It is so exciting to read about your success. My cousin is a prominent sports writer and I am writing him about you in efforts to get some publicity about your successes. I hope something happens with it. Cheers.
Thank you Chad.
The fact that the incumbent media outlets aren’t spreading the news says a lot.
I love the detail about mini- professional preparations. The number of youth coaches who teach their players proper warm-up, cool-down, nutrition and game preparation is almost as small as the number who teach proper possession-oriented soccer. I am especially disappointed in the former “professional” coaches who do not teach young players to buid these activities into their daily routines. Kudos to the TFA coaches who, once again, set the standard for paying attention to important details that forge the player.
Like “licenses”, being a former pro (especially one that was a product of the US) says very very very little about one’s capacity for execution of the art that is coaching at the highest levels.
Amen to that! There are so many clubs that boast so many former professional coaches on the staff. I am certain that its sole purpose is to help justify the $1500-$1800 fee the “not for profit” organization charges per player. it certainly has nothing to do with the product on the field becauuse in several occasions, the result is just good enough to barely beat local AYSO teams coached. Why do parents pay this money? Because they are not educated enough in soccer to know that these clubs are a joke.
Gary, I like what you represent. You coach soccer from a perspective that 99% of this country does not understand. Keep it up. You have a follower in Chicago here that is paying VERY close attention tto the details of your philosophy.
Why do all of them were Tiempo’s?
Congrats Gary! Keep doing what you’re doing and it will slowly eat away at the Route 1, bigger is better soccer mentality of coaches here in USA.
Thank you Kana,
I should reiterate, Brian is the artist here. I’m tackling a different monster.
And we need to continue bringing together the community of people who believe this country is better than what it shows.
Gary,
I think the monster you are fighting is far more challenging. Stealthier, roots that go tens of feet deep, ingrained in psyche of massive, brainwashed group . Bambi versus Godzilla. Gary only against team that lines up against his squad. Bu tthe beauty of it is both paths are complimentary, symbiotic in equal ways.
Cheering for you all the way Gary and Brian.
Wow!!! This Is GREAT!!! I KNOW U are “VERY PROUD” of YOUR BOYS!!! So Coach…… tell us what is the “Magical Formula”??? Inquiring Minds,WANT TO KNOW!!!
“Magical Formula”?
Here it is:
Study and try to emulate the absolute best in the world for 20 years. And sacrifice pretty much everything else in your life.
But here’s the good news …
Seriously do the above for just 2 or 3 years, and you will surpass >90% of coaches. That’s how poor the coaching is AT ALL LEVELS here.