Redlands FC gets 3 points against a tough Capo FC in USL 2 southwest play.
Pre-game
This matchup will be the second encounter for both sides this season. Since their last meeting, RFC was on a T-L-W-W form and hovered around 2nd place after that loss.
Capo FC’s form looked like L-L-W-T-L, and they have struggled to get out of last place in the southwest division.
Game Recap
The game would kick off in Dodge Stadium in front of a large crowd in the city of Redlands, California. Within minutes after the starting whistle, the hosts get a corner kick, and Elgersma slots in the messy ball in the box. 1-0 in favor of the hosts in 120 seconds.
Shortly after the goal, the Capo goalkeeper got injured and was subbed off. Five minutes later, Capo would respond with a goal from a nitpick off a bad defender fumble and places it in.
Once the exciting exchange ended, RFC went back to playing their style by attacking from the right wing while Capo, on the attack, would reach RFC’s 30-yard line and pass to build up an attack on goal.
Capo would also force passes in tight spaces that got them more chances at goal, and RFC had a tough time transitioning in the attack when they turned over the ball.
The struggle Redlands faced after various waves of attack were over, and they got a shot off the post from a dump-and-chase play. They eventually started to look like themselves, building up the play when in possession, then sending through passes to their forwards after Capo was successful in shutting down that game plan.
RFC would hit the post twice within 12 minutes, but Capo cleared the danger. Throughout the rest of the half, it looked even from both sides, with Capo and RFC having various waves of attacks that either weren’t enough for a shot on goal or disrupted and turnover. The half ends 1-1.
The second half would begin, and RFC dominated the chances with shots on and off target. They got what they deserved in the 56′ with a goal from a cross on the left side that missed the middle man, but Englebert finished it far post.
After falling behind, Capo was now connecting passes without building out the back and just moved forward. Some waves of attack did and didn’t fully see them getting a chance at goal.
RFC would continue hunting for a third goal as another shot from far hits the woodwork again (3rd time). At this point of the game, both sides were more physical in winning tackles, and RFC changed their strategy to more linear cutting passes that pierced the Capo defensive.
On a Capo attack in the 74′, they would strike gold and get a penalty for an opportunity to tie the game. The shot from the spot goes to the right, and RFC goalkeeper Ascenio dives that way to save the penalty to keep the lead. The crowd would stand and applaud the effort.
In the last 10 minutes of the game, Capo tried to salvage a point, but the RFC defense interrupted their efforts, and individual subs kept possession on the transition when getting pressured.
In the game’s last play, Capo finally broke through RFC’s defense with a lobbed cross to the box, and an emergency save by an RFC defender on the goalline denied the Capo header. RFC booted out the danger, and the final whistle blew to an exciting conclusion that saw the Redlands keep the win by a 2-1 scoreline.
The fans gave a standing ovation, and the home team celebrated. However, the Capo players immediately rushed the line judge to protest whether the goal was over the line to be called a goal. Some went as far as to push and shove with the offical, and one Capo player got ejected for being confrontational. The protests didn’t successfully turn over the score, and RFC won the 3 points.
Post-game
Redlands would record their 5th win of the season and are now on a two-game winning streak. With 17 points, they remain in 2nd place, just behind Ventura County Fusion. They would go on a lengthy break before their long road trip to mid-table side Arizona Arensal on July 6th.
As for Capo, they get their 6th loss of the season, toiling with 5 points in the season. They remain last in the southwest division before they host FC Tucson on June 28th.