2022/23 Matchweek 17 Review
A huge win at home for Colorado Futsal Academy over San Diego Voyagers keeps their season alive and brings everything to a head in their final game: a Matchweek 18 battle against New Mexico Flagship FC for a chance in the Southwestern Conference Championship match.
Colorado Futsal Academy 11-5 San Diego Voyagers
Things started off poorly for the Voyagers with an own goal less than a minute after Jorge Castellanos' cross was directed into the net. Things didn't get much better as Colorado Futsal Academy jumped out to a 5-1 lead before halftime.
Once again, Castellanos and Davinson Diaz had a big game for the home side, with the two of them chalking up 4 goals and 3 assists combined. Diaz scored their second, lashing a nice finish into the top left corner to take a 2-0 lead with under 5 minutes played.
Although the Voyagers kept it tied over the next ten minutes, Colorado would still find the all-important breakthrough for a 3-goal advantage. A nice finish across the goalie from Andres Delgado was quickly followed by a goal from Anderson Garlen after a neat give-and-go with Delgado.
The Voyagers got on the board in the final minute of the half as Marlon Arevedo fired across the keeper to score. Their lone goal was quickly canceled out by Jorge Castellanos as a nice bit of passing dissected the Voyager defense.
Shortly after halftime, the game did get closer and more interesting. An early goal from Arevedo was followed by another close-range finish from Alex Fernandez to make the score 5-3. Three minutes later, the Voyagers again cut into the deficit when Kevin Valenzuela latched onto a loose pass and fired it low and hard beyond the goalkeeper. With the score at 5-4, it was game on.
However, the comeback wouldn't progress too far beyond that. Colorado responded with two goals from Jesus Garcia and Felipe Carvajal: Garcia fired a left-footed strike into the far corner and Carvajal's quick give-and-go gave the home side an easy tap-in at the second post.
A quick response from Valenzuela for the Voyagers brought the score back to 7-5 and then the visitors ran out of steam, with Colorado scoring 4 unanswered in the final 6 minutes of the game to pull away. A second goal of the evening for Carvajalon an empty net from half-court created some space between the two teams at 8-5. The goal of the evening came from Davinson Diaz as he danced his way past 3 defenders before chipping the goalkeeper - a truly excellent goal and Goal of the Month contender.
Late goals against a tired Voyagers defense from Garcia and Diaz rounded off an emphatic win for Colorado Futsal Academy in their final home game of the season.
THE NFPL RETURNS...
A huge Matchweek 18 awaits the NFPL Southwest! New Mexico Flagship FC will host Colorado Futsal Academy needing a result (draw or win) to guarantee a place in the Championship. Only a win will be enough for Colorado to continue their late-season run to the playoff spots. The two teams last met in Matchweek 16 in Colorado, with Colorado taking all 3 points...
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