It was a beautiful evening for any spectator at Hormel Stadium in Medford, Massachusetts as the Boston Breakers U20 team set their sights on taking down the visiting Rhode Island Reds. It was a warm summer night and pregame predictions could have went either way as both teams seemed to be evenly matched. The anticipation was building as the players lined up, the whistle blew, and for the next ninety minutes, the fans eyes were glued to the thrilling match.
The opening minutes of the match were very one sided, but nevertheless a beautiful sight to see. The Boston Breakers linked pass after pass together creating chance after chance, and it looked as if this much anticipated match was going to be a blowout. But, after ten minutes had past, and the game remained scoreless, the Rhode Island Reds turned it on.
It was beautiful back and forth soccer and truly an exquisite game. Then, in the 29th minute the Reds hit a vicious shot from outside the eighteen yard box that was headed straight into the top corner, but an acrobatic save from the Breakers keeper kept the ball out of the net. Right when you thought this one might end scoreless, in the 31st minute the Reds linked four or five passes together in the attacking third and broke down the Breakers defense resulting in a tap-in goal. The Breakers team was left motionless as the Reds teamwork was simply unstoppable.
Halftime rapidly approached and the Boston Breakers headed into the locker room down a goal and wondering how they might break down the Reds defense.
After a lengthy halftime, the spectators were growing anxious for some more breathtaking soccer, and as the Breakers flooded the pitch, the crowd roared. Once again, the Rhode Island Reds got off to a slow start and the Boston Breakers poured on the pressure. The only difference in this half being the Breakers were able to capitalize in the 57th minute. Nearly identical to the Reds’ first half stunner, the Breakers strung six or seven passes together and walked the ball into the net. This very evenly matched game just got that much closer.
Just four minutes after the Breakers first goal, their outside winger made a thundering run added with a touch of individual skill and glided past the Reds keeper to take the lead to 2-1. Thirty more minutes of gorgeous soccer followed, with great passing, exquisite solo skill, and crunching tackles, but the score remained and the Boston Breakers came out victorious.
A glorious evening of soccer resulted in the Boston Breakers U20 beating the Rhode Island Reds 2-1.
