A couple of close games (as you would expect in the Semifinals) have gone final on this Christmas Eve. #3 Fighting Ants hosted the first game of the penultimate round against #2 Club de Fútbol Deportivo Cotopaxi to get things going. The Polish club delighted the home crowd of 21,493 with a goal on the opening play. Burhford Sigismund took the ball from the opening whistle and raced down the pitch, hitting a hard, rising shot that snuck in underneath the crossbar, giving Cotopaxi goalie Rose Luyten no chance to react. Sasha Guevara tied the game in the 13th minute when he painted the corner and both sides would add an additional goal to go into the halftime locker room knotted at 2-2. The game remained even as two more goals were scored, keeping the contest drawish at 3-3. In the 80th minute, a silly foul by Ants defender Andre Jorge gave a free kick to Cotopaxi just outside the box which led to heroics by Cotopaxi forward Sceley Ballouchy. Deciding to do it all, Ballouchy took the free kick and passed it to himself, where he one-timed his own pass for the game winner. Cotopaxi will take its 4-3 advantage into this evening, where the return game will be played in Quito, Ecuador.
In the other semifinal, #4 Futbol Club Oviedo and #8 kangaroo fc played to a dramatic 3-3 draw in Oviedo, Spain. The two teams traded goals the entire match as the score progressed from 1-1 to 2-2 and finally to end at 3-3. Oviedo has a 3-2 lead and was loking to get out of the stadium with a win but a corner kick awarded to the roos late gave them the opportunity to draw. The #8 seed took full advantage as Naum Desny controlled the cross in the middle of the penalty area and easily beat Oviedo goalie Giandomenico Sammarco. Both teams get to think about what's to come as they play on Christmas day to potentially decide who makes the final.
None of the Golden Toe leaders added to their totals as the number of remaining games dwindles to a handful. I'll update the other game this evening after 7pm.
12/24/2023 11:17 AM (edited)