Poor finishing dooms Stallions
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera South’s Christian Garcia controls the ball at midfield. He had a chance on goal during Wednesday’s loss to Edison.
The Madera Stallions boys soccer team was defeated by County/Metro Athletic Conference rivals Edison-Fresno 1-0 after the Stallions were unable to finish numerous chances.
“We feel like we performed at our best but we are missing our finishing,” assistant coach Enrique Garcia said about Wednesday’s loss. “That’s what’s going to put us behind every time. If we don’t finish, we can’t win.”
Garcia stated that the Stallions had many different things to work on for future matches.
“Finishing along with our first touch,” Garcia said. “Communication and working the ball out wide as well.”
The Stallions started out of the gates quickly in the third minute after Christian Garcia floated a cross to the back post where his teammates waited. However, the opposing goalkeeper left his lines to punch the ball away.
The Stallions nearly scored a minute later when Kevin Osuna attacked the ball in the penalty area but the goalkeeper is able to pick up the loose ball.
The Stallions had a third chance within the first 15 minutes when Osuna picked his head up after he darted down the left wing. Osuna fired from 10 yards out but was denied by the opposing goalkeeper.
The Stallions best chance in the half came in the 16th minute after Osuna received a perfectly weighted pass in the penalty area, but was denied the scoring chance by the Edison defense.
The second half was more of the same for the Stallions after they were futile in front of goal in the first.
Osuna created the first chance of the second half when he shot from point blank range in the ninth minute but was wide left on the shot.
The Tigers were able to break the deadlock in the 12th minute after the attacker knocked it past the goalkeeper for the game-winning goal.
The Stallions continued to push for the equalizer when Osuna nearly tied it from five yards out after his shot is blocked and nearly deflected into the goal.
The Stallions continued to heave balls into the box hoping for a dramatic equalizer. The Tigers were aware of the Stallions’ strategy so they packed the box to protect the lead.
