Galveston Pirate SC vs Monterrey Rayados Reserves
With multiple newspaper photographers, Spanish channel Azteca 51, and about 500 spectators many were expecting the Galveston SC to be a recipient of an old fashion beatdown. But they would be surprised by our gameplay and the final outcome.
Going up against one of the biggest clubs in the Americas put a lot of doubt in the head of Pirate supporters and even some of the players. As the captain I had to alleviate that negativity, letting my team know that if we play as a unit, we could definitely come out on top.
Many of the players had not played on a “stage” this big or in front of that many people and the nervousness showed somewhat early. Monterrey displayed their quick 1-2 passes and give-and-gos and caught us sleeping 13 minutes in with a goal. With minor adjustments we shutdown their runs and passes, and began showing some Pirate tenacity.
We shocked a lot of people by coming out and dominating the second half, but we couldn’t stick the ball on the back of the net. With 13 minutes left in the game, a supposedly “unintentional” handball cost us a second goal. Despite maintaining possession the majority of the final 10 minutes, saves from a great Rayados goalkeeper and multiple crossbar/posts hits prevented us from getting on the scoreboard.
An unfortunate loss reassured players and fans alike,that the Galveston Pirate SC can compete with the “big dogs.” Soccer is a game of opportunity. It presented itself several times, but we weren’t able to capitalize on it.
An article in our local Galveston Daily newspaper stated, “Many Rayados fans, sporting the trademark ‘Bimbo sponsored’ jerseys, left as Pirate fans.” This was just another step in our club’s progression, showing that we’re bringing life back to competitive sports on the island.
-RJ McNair, Galveston Pirate SC Captain
