Angel City came up short Monday night at Griffith Park, losing a tight 2-1 decision to Hollywood in the race for the top two playoff spots in the LA Municipal League (Div. B).
Top two teams in each of the three division qualify for the inter-divisional championships in mid-October.
ACFC started on its heels under instant pressure from a star-littered United side, but held off all chances with strong defence and solid goalkeeping from Dave Styles.
Ten minutes in ACFC began to create its own counterattacking chances with runs from Ben O'Meara, captain Sevan Hanimyan and Brandon Cole penetrating the offensive half. At the 28-minute mark O'Meara was hauled down in the box giving ACFC a PK opportunity. Cole stepped up and struck the right side back meshing to put Angel City up 1-0. The remainder of the half saw more ACFC chances and a defence and mid-field effort which stymied United chances.
The second half saw United pushing forward even harder, leaving a changed up back defensive line to deal with numerous chances on goal. At the 55-minute mark Hollywood United finally managed to convert a corner kick (one of several in a row) to tie the game at 1-1. Ten minutes later United headed in a second goal.
ACFC chances in the final 25 were pushed back by solid defending. However, ACFC managed to keep any more goals from coming in off the quick counterattacks created by pushing the team forward for the equalizer. Styles put in a solid effort between the posts while Kirby Adams and Leo Wallach mopped up the ball during several potential breakaway situations.
The loss unfortunately leaves ACFC in third place, four points behind Hollywood United and possibly six points behind the Spurs, who played The Devils Sept. 28. The good news is United and the Spurs play next week, guaranteeing at least one will lose points. Angel City face The Devils, the Spurs and a rematch against Atletico Espanol, so a top two spot is still within reach. Three wins and a strong run of goals are a must though as second place will likely be decided on goal differential.
GAME STATS
ACFC (1) vs Hollywood United (2)
Goals:
ACFC: (Brandon Cole, PK, 28:00)
Hollywood United: (55:00; 65:00)
Yellow Cards:
ACFC (0) vs Hollywood United (2)
Red Cards:
ACFC (0) vs Hollywood United (0)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
ACFC takes three points from Inter default
Sporting a strong side, ACFC arrived at Monday's return match against Inter with the hopes of a big win and a stronger goal differential.
But Inter failed to show ... not a single player arrived, despite the squad's strong fan base making an appearance.
The default gives ACFC its seventh win on the season out of 10 games (for 21 points), with matches against Hollywood United, The Devils and the Spurs still to be contested. The league has not announced when its canceled games from a few weeks back will be played. When scheduled, ACFC will also face a make-up match against Atletico Espanol.
The league tables have yet to be updated to include last and this week's results. So ACFC either sits in second or third spot depending on the Hollywood United v Armenia Deportivo result last night.
ACFC need a top 2 finish to qualify for the inter-divisional playoffs later this season.
This week also saw the departure of Aussie battler Sevan Hanimyan, who returns to his native land Down Under next week after putting in a strong season.
Angel City next play Hollywood United Sept. 28 at Griffith Park with an 8:45 PM kickoff. The teams' last meeting was a tight one, with United missing a PK and ACFC knocking a lone goal in during the dying minutes for the win.
But Inter failed to show ... not a single player arrived, despite the squad's strong fan base making an appearance.
The default gives ACFC its seventh win on the season out of 10 games (for 21 points), with matches against Hollywood United, The Devils and the Spurs still to be contested. The league has not announced when its canceled games from a few weeks back will be played. When scheduled, ACFC will also face a make-up match against Atletico Espanol.
The league tables have yet to be updated to include last and this week's results. So ACFC either sits in second or third spot depending on the Hollywood United v Armenia Deportivo result last night.
ACFC need a top 2 finish to qualify for the inter-divisional playoffs later this season.
This week also saw the departure of Aussie battler Sevan Hanimyan, who returns to his native land Down Under next week after putting in a strong season.
Angel City next play Hollywood United Sept. 28 at Griffith Park with an 8:45 PM kickoff. The teams' last meeting was a tight one, with United missing a PK and ACFC knocking a lone goal in during the dying minutes for the win.
Friday, September 18, 2009
ACFC launches new Fall 7s league
ACFC Manager Ben Kull has launched ACFC's latest initiative, a fall 7s league designed to fill in the playing gap between September and February for adult soccer players.
The new Angel City Soccer League expects to host 16 teams for 7 v 7 play at Playa Vista Sports Park starting Nov. 7. The community turf field will be used to stage two games at once with full-sized goals. Eight matches -- two per division -- will be held each day during the six-week regular season. The top two teams in each division will then be entered in a post-season tournament, while remaining squads will participate in a series of friendlies. Every squad is guaranteed at least seven games up to a maximum of 10, including playoffs for the $500 registration fee, which also includes ref fees.
Information about the league and an online registration form are now available on the ACSL's new website: http://acsl.angelcityfc.com.
A day after launch five squads, not including any of those from ACFC, had registered already.
The new Angel City Soccer League expects to host 16 teams for 7 v 7 play at Playa Vista Sports Park starting Nov. 7. The community turf field will be used to stage two games at once with full-sized goals. Eight matches -- two per division -- will be held each day during the six-week regular season. The top two teams in each division will then be entered in a post-season tournament, while remaining squads will participate in a series of friendlies. Every squad is guaranteed at least seven games up to a maximum of 10, including playoffs for the $500 registration fee, which also includes ref fees.
Information about the league and an online registration form are now available on the ACSL's new website: http://acsl.angelcityfc.com.
A day after launch five squads, not including any of those from ACFC, had registered already.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
ACFC back to winning ways
While still a little rusty from the two-week break from play, Angel City FC returned to its winning ways Monday night at John Ferraro with a convincing 4-0 win over bottom dwellers Nomads FC.
Ben O'Meara, who continues to tear up opposing defences, started the scoring early with a strike at the six-minute mark off a pass from Aussie import Sevan Hanimyan.
ACFC created numerous chances in the half but couldn't convert. However, strong defence from the back line and some tip-over saves from Dave Styles kept the squad's goose egg in tact.
The second half saw ACFC take advantage of better fitness and some great backchecking by the midfield, which kept the ball in the opposing half for much of the final 45. Brandon Cole notched his third of the season off a header from a Leo Wallach cross 15 minutes in. Wallach drew off the entire Nomads defence leaving Cole unattended in the box, with a welcome heading opportunity past the keeper.
David Woirhaye then switched the ball with a lofty cross to newly returned midfielder Marius Sandvik, who then unselfishly passed the ball into the center where Luis Deveze converted the goal at 75 minutes. Woirhaye closed out the scoring at 80 minutes when he was sent through on a breakaway by player manager Ben Kull.
The score easily could have been double the final tally. Keeper Dave Styles, who recorded his second shutout of the season, was named team MVP of the match.
ACFC -- which now has six wins and three losses for 18 points -- play Inter next week at John Ferraro with a 7 PM kickoff. The team were in fourth place before this week's results (three points behind table leaders Hotspurs and one point behind Hollywood United and Armenia Deportivo) and won't know if the win bumped them up to third until the league posts the tables for Sept. 14. Hollywood United did grab three points against Atletico Espanol, but the result of the Hotspurs vs Armenia Deportivo match was not known at press time.
GAME STATS
ACFC (4) vs Nomads (0)
Goals:
ACFC: (Ben O'Meara, 6:00; Brandon Cole, 60:00; Luis Deveze, 75:00;
David Woirhaye, 80:00)
Shutout: Dave Styles
MVP: Dave Styles
Yellow Cards:
ACFC (2) vs Nomads (1)
Red Cards:
ACFC (0) vs Nomads (0)
Ben O'Meara, who continues to tear up opposing defences, started the scoring early with a strike at the six-minute mark off a pass from Aussie import Sevan Hanimyan.
ACFC created numerous chances in the half but couldn't convert. However, strong defence from the back line and some tip-over saves from Dave Styles kept the squad's goose egg in tact.
The second half saw ACFC take advantage of better fitness and some great backchecking by the midfield, which kept the ball in the opposing half for much of the final 45. Brandon Cole notched his third of the season off a header from a Leo Wallach cross 15 minutes in. Wallach drew off the entire Nomads defence leaving Cole unattended in the box, with a welcome heading opportunity past the keeper.
David Woirhaye then switched the ball with a lofty cross to newly returned midfielder Marius Sandvik, who then unselfishly passed the ball into the center where Luis Deveze converted the goal at 75 minutes. Woirhaye closed out the scoring at 80 minutes when he was sent through on a breakaway by player manager Ben Kull.
The score easily could have been double the final tally. Keeper Dave Styles, who recorded his second shutout of the season, was named team MVP of the match.
ACFC -- which now has six wins and three losses for 18 points -- play Inter next week at John Ferraro with a 7 PM kickoff. The team were in fourth place before this week's results (three points behind table leaders Hotspurs and one point behind Hollywood United and Armenia Deportivo) and won't know if the win bumped them up to third until the league posts the tables for Sept. 14. Hollywood United did grab three points against Atletico Espanol, but the result of the Hotspurs vs Armenia Deportivo match was not known at press time.
GAME STATS
ACFC (4) vs Nomads (0)
Goals:
ACFC: (Ben O'Meara, 6:00; Brandon Cole, 60:00; Luis Deveze, 75:00;
David Woirhaye, 80:00)
Shutout: Dave Styles
MVP: Dave Styles
Yellow Cards:
ACFC (2) vs Nomads (1)
Red Cards:
ACFC (0) vs Nomads (0)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
ACFC Beach Celebrations
Congratulations to the ACFC 7's team, which won the regular season title in the Santa Monica League Santiago Division. Please come celebrate another successful season.
Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
Time: 1pm
Location:
Mother's Beach
14000 Palawan Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
website
We will be playing beach soccer, volleyball, swimming and barbecuing.
Feel free to invite any friends.
Please let me know if you can bring some kind of food or drink to add to the BBQ.
-Ben
Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
Time: 1pm
Location:
Mother's Beach
14000 Palawan Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
website
We will be playing beach soccer, volleyball, swimming and barbecuing.
Feel free to invite any friends.
Please let me know if you can bring some kind of food or drink to add to the BBQ.
-Ben
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