The light rain and cooler temperatures on Saturday morning were a welcome change of pace from what we’ve been used to.  After training the past few weeks in 90+ degree weather, the conditions for Barra Brava FC Premier’s Terrill Cup opener were perfect by comparison.  We came out with great energy and played a smart and effective game while keeping the clean sheet and scoring a handful of top-class goals.

This game was originally supposed to be played a few weeks ago but after discovering that the match conflicted with the USA-Ghana game, the guys opted to reschedule lest valuable drunken hooliganism opportunities at USA viewing parties go to waste.  It turned out to be a good move for us.  We got to down endless Peronis at Molly Malone’s during the US game AND came away from our the Cup match a few weeks later  with heads held high and proud after a superb all around performance.

Ball movement was good.  We maintained possession for the most part, and didn’t give up anything on defense that GK’s Stephen Elliot and Bill Chernicoff couldn’t handle thanks to a fantastic performance by legendary BBFC defender John Henderson.  At times, we played very direct and were a bit impatient but the slick field and the wide open pace of the game lent itself well to that style and it seemed to work for us all 90 minutes.

Forward Trevor Jacka was involved in nearly every play and while the leading goal scorer didn’t tally this game, he played the role of provider by assisting on each of the first three goals.  A low, driven cross from the end line across the face of the goal found David Rosenbaum who calmly re-directed the ball into the net about midway through the first half.  He then fed a throughball to midfielder Oscar Feliu who took the ball with speed past the last defender and slammed it past the goalkeeper.

But it was Oscar’s next goal that really turned heads.  Jacka again found Feliu’s feet at about midfield early in the second half.  It looked almost like a new and improved instant replay of Oscar’s first goal as he took the ball himself straight at the opposition.  He then touched it on to his right foot as he blew past the helpless defender and absolutely ripped the ball into the upper right-hand corner from about 20 yards away.   The goalkeeper had absolutely no chance of touching the ball much less saving the shot.

Individual efforts such as Oscar’s were the story of the day as Player of the Season Denis Mittikarin put his stamp on the game late in the second half.  After several close scoring opportunities and bouncing around in a crowded penalty area, the ball popped out near the top of the 18 to Denis skimmed the ball across the wet turf with a fantastic first time shot right into the lower corner of the goal.

It was an enjoyable game to watch yet, as an injured player, it was also painful not to be able to take part.  The guys looked like they were having fun playing and I wish I could have joined them.  Everyone felt good and it showed as we had a good game and ended up with an emphatic win for BBFC over one of the better 1^st Division sides.  So we have advanced to the next round where we will face the toughest test this year as we take on perennial WISL powerhouse and 1^st Division Champion, British Tigers.  We are all excited to have the opportunity to prove ourselves against the best competition we can find and can’t wait to take the field on the 17^th.   Keep an eye out on barra-brava.com or on Barra Brava FC’s Facebook page for details on where and when this game will be.