- April 24, 2024
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Diego Bernardi hugs a teammate after Matanzas' dramatic 1-0 victory Jan. 31. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Aiden Sauco celebrates the Pirates' 1-0 victory over Clay in the district semifinals. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Nick Ferrer (5) takes possession. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Aiden Cook (7) takes possession. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Nick Ferrer (5) tries to break a scoreless tie. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Goalkeeper Ben Kopach, right, makes a save. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Joseph “Fugi” Powell (12) has a bead on the ball. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Joseph “Fuji” Powell collides with the goalkeeper. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas players eye a 50-50 ball. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Aiden Sauco celebrates the victory in the District 4-5A semifinals. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Neda Jaronis (15) goes in to attempt a tackle. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Andrew Alvarez attempts a penalty kick early in the game. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Clay's goalkeeper had help from the goalpost to stop Andrew Alvarez's penalty kick. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Defenders Diego Bernardi (11) and Aiden Sauco. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Nick Ferrer dribbles upfield. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Pirates huddle before the game. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Defender Vince Ferrer (9). Photo by Brent Woronoff
Diego Bernardi (11) gets congratulations after the game. Photo by Brent Woronoff
One minute, Joseph “Fuji” Powell was watching the trajectory of his shot curve into the lower right corner of the goal. The next, he found himself on the bottom of a pile as his Matanzas teammates swarmed in celebration.
Fuji scored with 25 seconds left in regulation to give the Pirates a dramatic 1-0 victory over Clay High School in the District 4-5A boys soccer semifinals Jan. 31 at Pedro Menendez High School.
“In a game like this, to win it like we did, it's magical,” Matanzas defender Aiden Sauco said after the whoops and hollers, hugs and handshakes.
“In a game like this, to win it like we did, it's magical.”
AIDEN SAUCO, Matanzas defender
The Pirates (9-4-1) advanced to the district championship game against host Menendez on Feb. 2. But as the No. 4-ranked team in the region heading into districts, the semifinal win all but guaranteed Matanzas a trip to the regional playoffs, which begin Feb. 9.
While the game appeared to be headed to overtime, Matanzas coach Beto Aguilar said he had a feeling Powell's shot would result in the go-ahead goal.
“As soon as he let go, I said, ‘OK, someone's getting a header,’ Aguilar said. “But even better, it went in. From last year to this year, Fuji has become dangerous in the attack. He put in some serious work over the summer.”
The Pirates had several chances to score in the final minutes. Clay's goalkeeper made a diving save on a shot from Powell with about three minutes left. But with less than 30 seconds on the clock, the Pirates knew they were running out of chances in regulation.
“I thought to cross,” Powell said. “But I saw the keeper was off his line, so I chipped it over him. It was a close call. It just got over him.”
The Pirates had a golden opportunity to take an early lead when Andrew Alvarez, who leads the team with 13 goals, was fouled in the box. Alvarez's penalty shot bounced off the left post and rolled behind the goalkeeper but in front of the goal line.
“When you miss a PK like that, it lowers the energy of the team,” Sauco said.
But the Pirates said they realized they had to turn it up against a Clay team that was tougher than they expected.
“We kind of absorbed the storm in the first few minutes,” Aguilar said. “The boys weathered that storm and stayed composed.”
