I didn’t plan on writing about this game, but then it went on to be an absolute banger. So here we are. A little extra practice never hurt anyone I guess. Full disclosure I had a small bet on Rhode Island to win or draw, and I felt pretty confident with that coming in. In fact when I made the bet I even wrote, “I was impressed with Monterey against El Paso. I fully admit to sleeping on this Monterey side, but old habits die hard”. That’s all published over on I HATE MY WALLET, go check it out. Point being, I’m an idiot with no conviction, and am easily swayed by the big names on Rhode Island.
Monterey plays a really good cohesive game. They relentlessly flock to the ball in the midfield and seemingly always have a numbers advantage. They force quick decisions by the opposition and capitalize on mistakes. When they win the ball they quickly go the other way, by throwing it out wide and letting their speedy wingers chase it down. From there they try to get it back into the box to big Luther Archimede. This has been the problem for Monterey thus far. They execute the first part of the strategy masterfully, but that final cross into the box just never seems to be on target to a dangerous spot. Once they get that connection down this team could be very scary.
Rhode Island on the other hand … well I haven’t figured them out yet, but I assume their strategy has a lot to do with just being better than everyone else offensively. Albert Dikwa is about as reliable a finisher as this league has, and he is absolutely surrounded by good ball movers and play makers. I don’t know much about this backline but they were scrappy against New Mexico, and they’re a tall bunch so that’s sure to give Archimede some problems.
This game was a treat to watch from a neutral perspective. From the opening whistle Rhode Island was insistent they could move the ball through the midfield, which is exactly what Monterey wants. Monterey consistently put 2-3 players on the ball carrier and forced quick passes. The Rhode Island midfield did very well to stay calm in the face of pressure and find the open man, but just like that there were another three Monterey players on them. Monterey Bay play like piranhas swarming a meal, it’s a joy to watch. Rhode Island moved the ball with clever flicks and one touch passes, but struggled to get set up offensively.
When Monterey would win the ball they would go the other way with numbers, but continuously blundered the final pass. The 20 mph wind didn’t do them any favors here, but a lot of these passes just didn’t need to be in the air. Jesus Enriquez threw a few good chances trying to connect on long crosses but ended up airmailing the ball into the crowd each time.
At the 41 minute mark Noah Fuson picked up the ball in the center of the field. Spotted Dikwa making a run and delivered an absolute dime of a pass right to his boot on the edge of the box. Dik settled it, stepped into the box, and fired it right though Antony Siaha. 1-0 Rhode Island. If that sort of pass is in Fuson’s toolbox, Dik’s gonna score 25 this year. Where are they gonna put JJ Williams when he is ready to go? That’s a question for another time, and for someone who knows a lot more about soccer than I do. Back to the game.
I mentioned Monterey Bay plays like piranhas because of how they swarm to the ball, but they’re also piranha-like in their resilience. Just 4 minutes later earned a free kick on the right wing. Walmer Martinez curled a ball in and found a gap just between the Rhode Island defenders and Koke Vegas right at the top of the goal box. A lunging Carlos Guzman got a toe on the ball and helped it past the keeper. We’re level at one just before the half. Are piranha’s resilient? I don’t actually know anything about piranhas.
Monterey would carry that momentum into the second half. Just a minute in, Archimede is able to make a run splitting the Rhode Island center backs. He picks up a bouncing ball just outside the box, but is fouled from behind by Grant Stoneman, with noone between him and the keeper. It takes a moment, but the ref would eventually blow it dead, and produce a yellow card. Monterey would get a free kick in a dangerous spot and Rhode Island was lucky to get away with a yellow. Martinez tried to go over the wall but kicking into the wind he launched it over the net.
After the missed opportunity Rhode Island would go back on the offensive, but seemed noticeably frustrated with the Monterey pressure, and picked another pair of yellow cards in the 55th minute. The game seemed to be turning in Rhode Island’s favor, so Frank Yallop decided it was time for a change. In the 62nd minute he subbed off Archimede for certified dawg Tristan Trager. With 4 RIFC players already on yellow cards and frustration mounting, Tristan Trager’s skill and pace was sure to turn the tide back in the favor of Mon GOAL! Rhode Island scores in the 63rd minute. Joe Brito took a pass on the right sideline. He had a second to look up and saw Dik headed towards goal, and said yeah let’s try it. Monterey’s defenders seemed completely caught off guard as the ball bounced once then rolled right to Dikwa, who doesn’t miss from there. I’ve been high on Monterey, but this one was sloppy.
Now I was curious to see how Rhode Island would play with a lead in the second half. I’m really not sure if Khano has it in him to sit back. His forwards pulled back a little bit but stayed high looking to break. The game continued in much the same way, and in the 71st minute Dikwa received a pass in his own half and had to retreat back from a few Monterey Bay players closing in on him. He tried to play it back to his backline but it was intercepted by Chase Boone and played up the wing to Mobi Fehr. Fehr spotted a streaking Trager and played a low cross into him. Trager flicked the ball out of the air into the back of the net. 2-2 we’re all level again. What did I say, that guys a dawg. Certified piranha dawg.
Monterey had clawed back into it again and Rhode Island looked deflated. Monterey smelled blood and were all over the injured Rhode Islanders … wait, that's sharks. In the 76th Minute Trager collided with keeper Koke Vegas. After an injury stoppage Vegas tried to play on but would be subbed off a few minutes later. It’s looking bleaker and bleaker for RIFC, who are just trying to hold on at this point.
In the 84th minute Monterey Bay looked to test new keeper Jackson Lee on a corner kick. The ball was whipped in by Ryan Dieter, took a single bounce at the top of the keepers box and straight past all the Rhode Island defenders before being touched across the line by Rafael Baca. GOAL! 3-2 Monterey Bay! Nope, calling it back for … well I’m not sure why they’re calling it back. The call was offside on Carlos Guzman who never touched the ball, but was in the area. The official must have thought he had gotten the final touch. The official got this one wrong and that’s a tough break for the surging Monterey side. The game would end 2-2 and I can’t imagine either team is happy with the result despite some very high quality play.
Takeaways
Rhode Island’s offense could get very scary
I will be declaring Frank Yallop my way too early coach of the year
Tristan Trager, piranha dog
Both of these teams can play ball, that was a lot of fun