09-08-2017, 10:54 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-08-2017, 11:59 AM by Viking_Guy.)
Good victory, for the most part.
First goal - was pretty much on Stanford's keeper, Nico Corti (and I say that as a keeper.) Long throw from the his left to a near post flick-on header from SMU's big player Cichero (who won it in front of Hilliard-Arce). High arching flick to the back post, and Corti, with plenty of time, stays anchored to his line instead of coming to punch or contest on a ball that was falling inside his crease even with the right post. The ensuing scrum pointed out one potential weakness for the Cardinal this year - not a lot of height beyond Tomas. The Mustangs easily won the second ball when Nico didn't contest, and knocked it down into a mess of people, where it nutmegged a defender and fell right into the step of a SMU player, who toe-poked it home before Corti could react. First goal given up by Stanford in more than 8 matches, and first by Corti in his career.
After that, Stanford owned the first half, at one point out-shooting SMU 10-1. They were flowing forward, moving the ball at will, and the Mustangs were retreating - in shape, and balanced, but still conceding without much pressure well inside their own half. The equalizer came on a PK, when on a free kick Beeson got tangled with a defender, and the referee awarded the penalty. Looked like normal free-kick wrestling, but Tanner was isolated, playing the "last run" role on the far post, so the contact was clearly visible. Beeson slammed the ball home to even the score.
The second half was much more closely contested. After being outshot 15-2 in the opener, the Mustangs only went down 9-8 in the second. Corti had continued to have issues with controlling his area - a lot of high, floating balls into and across the box I could hear the keeper's plaintive cry "Away!" But he did have a couple of big saves, including another pinballing chance that fell at the foot of an SMU forward at about 8 yards that Nico made a beautiful left-footed kick save on, and his area control improved as he was forced into more action with the Mustangs' improved offense.
Second Stanford goal was an absolute stunner. 65 minutes in, freshman Logan Panchot from about 15 yards over half outside the box near the right sideline lofted in a cross. Fellow frosh Charlie Wehan managed to get a clear header on the far post, and flicked the ball back across the face of goal and into the far upper 90 - I would say the ball hit the side netting about 6 inches inside the right post and about a foot below the crossbar. Just a gorgeous shot that gave the keeper no chance.
Third goal came about 6 minutes later. Wehan made a nice run from the right side, weaving into the top of the box, only to be cut off by a deep defender stepping into him and one closing from the top on his left. The left defender stepped across to get a left foot on the ball, but did so just as the other defender stepped in, creating a Charlie sandwich and sending him to the ground over the leg of the deeper defender. PK converted by Foster.
So the freshmen came through, Corti improved over the course of the match, Foster got his goal. My man of the match?
SMU's keeper, Michael Nelson. He was incredible. Reaction saves, kick saves, coming out to win the ball. He kept the Mustangs in the match, and only conceded Wehan's wonder finish. The two PKs, which are always a crapshoot on whether they'll be called and then a guessing game for how you'll defend, don't alter my opinion at all. 10 saves overall.
Note: Corey Baird didn't play. Not sure if he picked up a knock; was in sweats on the sideline.
Highlight video: see one of Nelson's better saves at 13 seconds, and the Wehan goal at 35:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21tiz3t52zE
VG
First goal - was pretty much on Stanford's keeper, Nico Corti (and I say that as a keeper.) Long throw from the his left to a near post flick-on header from SMU's big player Cichero (who won it in front of Hilliard-Arce). High arching flick to the back post, and Corti, with plenty of time, stays anchored to his line instead of coming to punch or contest on a ball that was falling inside his crease even with the right post. The ensuing scrum pointed out one potential weakness for the Cardinal this year - not a lot of height beyond Tomas. The Mustangs easily won the second ball when Nico didn't contest, and knocked it down into a mess of people, where it nutmegged a defender and fell right into the step of a SMU player, who toe-poked it home before Corti could react. First goal given up by Stanford in more than 8 matches, and first by Corti in his career.
After that, Stanford owned the first half, at one point out-shooting SMU 10-1. They were flowing forward, moving the ball at will, and the Mustangs were retreating - in shape, and balanced, but still conceding without much pressure well inside their own half. The equalizer came on a PK, when on a free kick Beeson got tangled with a defender, and the referee awarded the penalty. Looked like normal free-kick wrestling, but Tanner was isolated, playing the "last run" role on the far post, so the contact was clearly visible. Beeson slammed the ball home to even the score.
The second half was much more closely contested. After being outshot 15-2 in the opener, the Mustangs only went down 9-8 in the second. Corti had continued to have issues with controlling his area - a lot of high, floating balls into and across the box I could hear the keeper's plaintive cry "Away!" But he did have a couple of big saves, including another pinballing chance that fell at the foot of an SMU forward at about 8 yards that Nico made a beautiful left-footed kick save on, and his area control improved as he was forced into more action with the Mustangs' improved offense.
Second Stanford goal was an absolute stunner. 65 minutes in, freshman Logan Panchot from about 15 yards over half outside the box near the right sideline lofted in a cross. Fellow frosh Charlie Wehan managed to get a clear header on the far post, and flicked the ball back across the face of goal and into the far upper 90 - I would say the ball hit the side netting about 6 inches inside the right post and about a foot below the crossbar. Just a gorgeous shot that gave the keeper no chance.
Third goal came about 6 minutes later. Wehan made a nice run from the right side, weaving into the top of the box, only to be cut off by a deep defender stepping into him and one closing from the top on his left. The left defender stepped across to get a left foot on the ball, but did so just as the other defender stepped in, creating a Charlie sandwich and sending him to the ground over the leg of the deeper defender. PK converted by Foster.
So the freshmen came through, Corti improved over the course of the match, Foster got his goal. My man of the match?
SMU's keeper, Michael Nelson. He was incredible. Reaction saves, kick saves, coming out to win the ball. He kept the Mustangs in the match, and only conceded Wehan's wonder finish. The two PKs, which are always a crapshoot on whether they'll be called and then a guessing game for how you'll defend, don't alter my opinion at all. 10 saves overall.
Note: Corey Baird didn't play. Not sure if he picked up a knock; was in sweats on the sideline.
Highlight video: see one of Nelson's better saves at 13 seconds, and the Wehan goal at 35:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21tiz3t52zE
VG