Seattle United

B98 Tango played their Challenge Cup Division 1 semi-final game May 5th at Starfire on field 1 at 1:00 PM against WPFC B98 White. It was a very close game that Tango won 1-0 in double overtime to advance to the finals on Sunday against Eastside FC Boys 98 White. The semi-final was a hard fought game as both teams battled for 90 minutes. Both team demonstrated their attacking abilities with numerous goal-scoring opportunities created. Fortunately, for Tango good defensive organization and outstanding goalkeeping kept the game scoreless. After the first overtime the game remained goalless, but in the 2nd overtime period Tango was awarded a corner kick with 3 minutes remaining. As their corner kick specialist CJ Rogers stepped up to take the corner kick, the Tango team set up in their “Arsenal” corner kick formation. As the ball was served in, a Tango player leapt to redirect it toward the goal, but the ball was deflected out toward the top of the 18-yard box where Zach Karch was waiting to strike the ball with his first touch over the Washington Premier goalkeeper’s head and into the roof of the net. After the goal was scored, the team quickly switched formations to a 5-4-1 to try to eliminate any attacking threat from Washington Premier. As the clock wound down and the referee blew the final whistle the Tango players breathed a sigh of relief as they immerged victorious after a close game. 

In the finals, B98 Tango won 4-2 with goals from Colin Fallon, Christian Rogers, Alex Tolton, and Javad Goudarzi. The Tango team faced a familiar foe, which was the Eastside FC White team that had previously beaten the Tango team twice and tied once. The final was a very exciting game in which 6 goals were scored. The Tango team struck first with a goal from CJ Rogers who beat the Eastside FC goalkeeper near post after a 30 yard run down the left wing. At half-time the score remained 1-0. Early into the second half central defender, Colin Fallon, shot from 30 yards out to beat the Eastside FC goalkeeper to make the game 2-0. During postgame interviews, Colin was asked “what made you decide to shoot from so far away?” Colin calmly replied, “At halftime, coach told us to take a few more shots and test the GK so I thought to myself, why not??” 

As the game progressed, Eastside FC was awarded a free kick 20 yards away from the goal. With a great set piece, Eastside FC made the game 2-1. After the goal, Tango   regrouped by going on the offensive once again and putting their opponent under pressure. As central midfielder, Zach Karch, switched the ball to the right wing, CJ Rogers, Javad Gourdazi dashed to right wing just outside the 18-yard box to receive a quick pass from CJ to enter the box. With the defender approaching, Javad took him on  1v1 and fired the ball far post. The ball traveled out of the reach of the goalkeeper, ricocheted off the far post, and into the net as Javad and his teammates celebrated ecstatically. With the game 3-1 Eastside struck back minutes later with some good passing and ball movement. Eastside scored on some combination play from the wing to find their forward awaiting inside the box to finish from 10 yards out. At this point the game became intense at 3-2.

With less than 5 minutes remaining Eastside was in possession of the ball as Tango withdrew into their half by taking a more defensive formation to once again try and seal the victory. As Eastside made a back pass to their goalkeeper, an on rushing Alex Tolton anticipated the next pass and intercepted the ball just outside the penalty area. With just the goalkeeper to beat, Alex tucked the ball neatly underneath the onrushing goalkeeper to make the game 4-2 and seal the Challenge Cup victory for B98 Tango. 

Congratulations B98 Tango Challenge Cup 2012 champions!