E.P. Times: El Paso's Dominic Schell, left, battled Atlanta's Carlos Parra.


E.P. Times: Patriots dominate, but lose in overtime


atlantasilverbacks.com: Silverbacks win 3rd OT game this season, 6th overall

USLsoccer.com: Saturday Night Roundup

Let's see what Duke says about the game. I was not at Dudley Field last night, I was babysitting. I was, however, listening to the radio broadcast. It seems like we had the stupidest f*ck they could find referring the game. The announcers went as far as saying that they should set up a "school" so all these referees can learn how to properly call a game.

It looks like it was a heck of a game after the 85th minute mark.

Frustrating loss, but Pats have no one else to blame but themselves. In order to win a game, you have to play two equal halves of offensive soccer and the Pats didn't. Here's my match analysis.

First half
Pats came out sluggish and overcautious. As a home team, you have to take the game to the opposing team, put pressure early, show that you want it more. Coach Tita had the wrong game plan, lining up his players in the wrong positions. What resulted was boring, uninspired soccer.

Here's how it went.

Atlanta came out in typical visiting team fashion, quite content to defend and counter-attack. They didn't display any of the attacking soccer they're capable of, if their record to date is any indication. Pats started Schell and Lomeli upfront as the lone strikers and played with back line of 5 defenders, including No. 10 DaGama as a left defender.

Go figure this out.

Pat's single most talented player and playmaker playing from a defensive position when Pats are already short on offensive ideas. Coach Tita limited DaGama to making the occasional attacking run down the left side as if this would surprise a well organized Atlanta defense.

At the 11th minute, DaGama lost a ball just past the halfway line catching Pats off balance as they were pressing forward. Just two passes later, Atlanta found a totally unmarked man in open space on their attacking left side of the field. Pat's No.4 Carlos "Moro" Martinez had lost his man, leaving him wide open. Atlanta forward No.12, I think, collected the nice cross with plenty of time, made a short run forward into the box and unleashed a powerful shot far post, into the small netting, leaving GK Llamas completely flat-footed.

Pat's reaction never came.

We were now over 33 minutes into the half before Feddy Juarez took El Paso's first shot on goal only to see it sail wide, a couple of feet over the crossbar. At the 40th minute, DaGama sent a direct free kick far post which found a surprised Lomeli who tried a weak misdirected header for El Paso's only and best chance of the half. El Paso had only managed a lousy 3 shots on goal (Midfielder DaSilva tried a 25 yarder which went well wide of its intended target)in the whole half.

Pitiful.

Schell never was a factor on offense, Lomeli would take dives and feign injury every time he would get bumped by the strong tall Silverback defense. This gamesmanship tactic later earned him a caution and drew Coach Tita's anger. Mexican No.7 Saul Quinones basically disappeared and played a lazy game.The only redeeming features of the first half came from Feddy Juarez who worked hard to play with some kind of pace.He managed a couple of nice incisive runs on goal, dribbling past 3 or 4 players only to run out of steam, space and time to get off a shot. Center defender DosSantos was rock solid, stopping all Atlanta runs down the middle. Guillermo McFarlane, a step slower at 33, resorted to many fouls to stop Atlanta but it proved effective.

Second half
A completely reshuffled El Paso team took the field. Lomeli replaced Martinez at right back. DaGame was now lined up as an attacking mid and later assumed a striker role. DosSantos played defensive mid, to help out Juarez and DaSilva. In other words, Coach Tita realized his gross mistake and lined up players where they truly belonged.

It payed off.

Pat's started the half applying good offensive pressure. However they lacked imagination to create scoring opportunities. El Paso is slow to move on the attack when they get the ball back, giving their opponents ample time to organize their defense.

Pats lack the speed to make quick transitions for a counterattack. Unfortunately Mexican and Brazilian players are not known to play that way. An important dimension of the modern game doesn't exist for the Patriots. Furthermore, average height to small forwards are simply not able to win head balls from a tall defense, taking away another threat in the modern game.

Anyway, back to the action.

With Schell running out of steam, DaGame got busier on the attack. Often left with no support, he wasn't able to get off any good shots on goal but did earn a few corner kicks. Precisely off a corner kick, Pats mounted an offensive series of shots on goal which Atlanta survived and cleared off their goal line. This seemed to spark some life into the crowd but it soon fizzled.

In injury time, DaGama took on 2 defenders, dribbled past them with flair and placed a truly beautiful shot into the upper right hand corner, far post, from 16 yards out. He had single-handedly saved the team from disaster and took the game into OT. None of this momentum, however, carried over into the first 10 mn of OT. No shots on goal. No scoring opps.

With approx 5 mn left into the 2nd OT, Pats defender No.6 (Waldrum, a sub who came in for an injured McFarlane early in the second half)saw his clearing header drop at the top of the El Paso box where Atlanta defender Carlos Parra was lurking. He sent his powerful shot near post past the diving LLamas at full stretch for the sudden-death game winner.

I hope the Pat's and Coach Tita, especially, learned an important lesson. Offense is usually your best defense. Play like you want to win. At least you will please your home crowd, even if you end up short. Play for 90 minutes, not just 45, and you will improve your chances.

As far as the referee was concerned, he called a good game. He issued cautions when needed (he was actually lenient as far as El Paso's constant dives were concerned) and generally called a tight game. I don't know what the radio commentators complained about, but I can tell you
that these guys usually let their frustrations take the better of their judgement. And this is not to say about their lack of knowledge about the rules of the game.

Mod's note: Edited to make it easier on the eyes

Yup, that's about the size of it.

Bottom line: Despite whether or not you thought the match was poorly called, El Paso had some opportunities, especially that bit in the mouth of the goal where two or three different Pats had a shot but couldn't seal the deal. Nada. Atlanta is the better of the two teams.

In regards to U.S. Open Cup play, El Paso will now need to win and score three goals in doing so this Friday in Atlanta to advance to the next round. Yeah, that's gonna happen...when pigs fly out of my b*tt!

Hopefully I'll have my match report out later this afternoon, but nothing tops a good read of the match from Mssr. Ferry.

Can't wait to read the match report Vox. However, I don't think we need to score three goals in Atlanta to advance in the Open Cup. If we win 1-0 or simply by one goal then we could advance through pk's. I don't think it's done like in Europe where away goals count double. Or am I mistaken. I saw the Hampton Roads - Pittsburgh game on TV this weekend and at least that's how they explained it.

I defer to your judgement, Texans...There are lots of ways to decide it -- I just happened to remember UEFA's.

What has J. Y. "tell it like it is" Ferry been drinking lately? Good, seemingly very honest (too?) report of the game. Cudos, Mr. Ferry.

Couple of questions: why was Schell "running out of steam"?

Also, I swear, when my son played in NAIA against Mobile, that Schell was a defender. I'll have to check on that at NAIA site.

>>>Just looked it up. He and a forward I know
very well were both named to the NAIA National Championship Tournament All-Tournament Team in 1999. Schell as a defender and the person I know as a forward....the only American thus named.>>>>>

What is a defender/midfielder doing up front? Thought you guys would have found a true forward easily enough there on the border.

Also really enjoyed comments about EP's type of play just not working in the modern USL age. But you do mention that Mexican/Brazilian method of very slow build-up which allows teams to bunker down is what you'd expect, taking into consideration the player personnel and coach. Seems to me, father of a fast, hard-working forward who also defends, that more of a mix of talent is needed.

What is a bit frustrating to me is that it sounds, to some degree, that this coach is "heads up" on the diving/theatrics and has enough sense and non-egocentric personality to actually change tactics when he see's that whatever he's done isn't working....that's a big change...even being aware that what you're doing isn't working is a big step, let alone changing it. There is hope out there on I-10.

I gotta go with jfl, what have you been drinking as of late Ferry? Anyways can anyone tell me what the status of Memo McFarlane is? I know he has had problems with his left(IIRC) shoulder. Finally does anyone have a clue as to whether we will be seeing any new players come in for the team?

RE: Schell running out of gas. He actually has been one of the more productive players in terms of creating things and challenging defenses this season -- not that that's saying a whole heckuva lot.

I think one reason -- and please, anyone, correct me if I'm wrong -- is that the Patriots' counter-attack usually involves a long loft from the back in the hopes somebody's able to go get it. I.E., if you can't pass it through 'em, pass it over 'em. Not only does this work rarely, there's not enough speed, especially now in the absence of Matt Stewart, to actually get the forward who receives the ball enough space to create something. Then, you also run your forwards ragged. J.Y. is right -- Atlanta, among others, was very able to hightail it back defensively and just dared the Patriots to come get it. Freddy Juarez was probably best at creating space for himself, using some nifty moves to find a gap. I think he shouldn't have had to play so forward, though. Again a case of a player forced to play out of position.

Tita still badly needs that possession forward. I just keep wondering if these guys are too proud to go after more Americans.

As for Memo, there's no telling...But he did not look well. He fell right on that shoulder and could not straighten up to get off the field. My GUESS is a separation.

I'll ask around, though.