It was a fourth division Vancouver Island Soccer League menB次元官网网址檚 league game and, as usual, there werenB次元官网网址檛 many people around to watch at Westhills Stadium.
And a win for Juan de Fuca in SundayB次元官网网址檚 game against division-leading Penelakut United, based on the former Kuper Island off Chemainus, wasnB次元官网网址檛 critical at this point in the season.
But a passerby could have easily guessed otherwise from the celebration that erupted around JdF forward Jaeho Lee, after he blasted in his fifth goal of the game, the insurance goal in a 5-3 victory.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so glad we won, because we lost the last game (against Penelakut) when we went to their home; the score was 4-0 for them,B次元官网网址� he said of the Oct. 10 match.
With less than five minutes to play Lee sprinted to catch a lead pass down the centre of the field, raced in another 25 yards or so and unleashed a right-footed rocket that beat goalkeeper Lorne James to his left.
B次元官网网址淚f I didnB次元官网网址檛 have these guys, I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have (scored) the goals. They passed to me very well,B次元官网网址� he said modestly, pointing to his teammates chatting excitedly around him after the game.
LeeB次元官网网址檚 fearless header on a corner kick with about 15 minutes to go had given his team a 4-3 advantage.
A short time earlier, with JdF up 3-2, the visitors put heavy pressure on Juan de FucaB次元官网网址檚 backfield, leading to a penalty shot call for a handball in the box.
PenelakutB次元官网网址檚 Raymond Sam made no mistake on the attempt, tying the game at 3-3.
Clearly not sensing that an important win had eluded them, Juan de Fuca rallied immediately, attacking hard and winning several loose balls. The locals managed a couple of corner kicks on top of the one that resulted in LeeB次元官网网址檚 goal.
The insurance marker came on a seemingly innocent-looking clear up the midfield. The ball found a seam in the Penelakut defence and allowed an alert Lee to race in past the last defender to score.
JdF coach Al Hood liked the way his team played in the rematch against the talented Penelakut side. He remembers well the day his team ventured up Island to play United on their home field. It was a stormy day B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渢he sun came out as we were walking off the fieldB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� and Juan de Fuca was short players due to work commitments.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a very quick, skilled team and we were surprised by their speed,B次元官网网址� Hood said. B次元官网网址淎nd it was early in the season and we werenB次元官网网址檛 that well organized. Today we were expecting the speed and their skill and we made sure we were in position to save it, and we were lucky enough to turn it around.B次元官网网址�
He praised his fullbacks for playing well and being prepared, as well as the midfielders for coming back to support them defensively.
While itB次元官网网址檚 still just midway through the VISL season, the win was not insignificant for Juan de Fuca. Not only was it the teamB次元官网网址檚 fifth straight victory and seventh game without a loss after an 0-4 start, it pulled them within three points of top spot heading into the Christmas break.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 terrific, this is as well as my team has ever played over the years,B次元官网网址� Hood said.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a solid team; theyB次元官网网址檙e enjoying playing together and theyB次元官网网址檙e playing hard all the time, and itB次元官网网址檚 starting to show. For me itB次元官网网址檚 really rewarding to see how hard theyB次元官网网址檙e working and doing their job, and having fun.B次元官网网址�
That went double for Lee, he said. B次元官网网址淛aeho loves to score, and he was having a lot of fun this afternoon.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
