Steel FC 1 - 1 Century United
3/14 Pre-season Friendly
Century Field @ 7:00 PM
Steel FC 1 - 1 Century United
We had the pleasure of traveling to Century Field our second pre-season match of 2021 and came away with a 1-1 draw.
This match was our second pre-season game of 2021 and you could definitely tell. Century United is a massive club with over 40 boys and girls teams. We had the pleasure of playing their U-19 squad. Needless to say, they pretty much play all year round and are young and fit. We are old and wise. It was a battle of generations. We, again, used this game as a tryout for potential new players so, again, it was a mixed bag of talent without 5 starters.
The game started out quick with Century ready to run. Their fitness was not an issue and it showed as they put pressure on us and went in hard for every 50/50 ball. We adapted and started to move the ball more quickly getting down the flanks, limiting their high pressure. We had a few shots here and there that went high and wide and only tested their keeper twice through the first 30 minutes or so. However, after twisting and turning past defenders in their box, Christian Lewandowski was brought down and we were awarded a penalty kick. Lewis Osborne stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way. 1-0 us in the 38th minute. After the restart we became too comfortable only up a goal and sat in, waiting for the halftime whistle. Unfortunately that whistle would not come soon enough and in the 44th minute Century equalized as a blocked clearance by their player found the foot of his teammate who calmly placed his shot into the bottom right corner. We would go into the half at 1-1. As the 2nd half started we started to pick up momentum with 3-4 decent chances, the best coming when Lewis Osborne beat his man down the left hand side, cut in on his right foot and curled a shot headed to the side netting. However, the keeper got a fingertip on it and sent it off the post and out of play. The subsequent corner was headed over the bar and Century escaped unscathed. Play continued and fitness became a toll for our guys. Century's youth really started to show and wear down our wingers and on a few occasions their players were able to get down the flanks and whip in crosses. However, our CB's and GK did well clearing everything that came their way. In the last few minutes of the game Century forced a turnover in our midfield and drove down the center of the pitch. With our CB's giving ground, their CAM ripped a shot from 30 yards out which clanged off the crossbar and bounced back to their ST. With an open net and our keeper on the ground from trying to make the initial save, the Century ST somehow missed an open net and let us off the hook. Moments later the whistle blew with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.
Goals: Osborne (PK)
Assists: N/A
Our next game is as follows:
3/21 Pre-season Friendly
Steel FC vs Pittsburgh Hotspurs
No Offseason Sports @ 10:30 AM
Game Footage (white) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS0vL81_FUg