Catonsville, MD – U16 Baltimore Bays Chelsea drew NJSA 2-2 in the second game at UMBC.  In this case, Baltimore was much better, but they didn’t take advantage of their numerous scoring chances and had to settle for the draw.

Starting Line-ups:

Baltimore Bays Chelsea: 4-4-2. Flat 3 man midfield in front of a DM.
F:  John Jlopleh, Jeremy DeGraffenreidt
M: Christian Porras, Romilio Hernandez, Jonathan Barron
DM: James O’Connor
D: Alexander Ponvert, Michael DeGraffenreidt, Tanner Vosvick, Derek Chan
GK: Matthew Sanchez

NJSA: 4-2-3-1. The back 4 plays with Butler as a sweeper with Weinreb
F: Ethan Decker, Zachary Bond
M: Mael Corboz, Jon-Luke, Brendan McSherry, Chris Hill
D: Jake Nerwinski, Josh Toribio, Ryan Groffie, Corey Atanda
GK: Stephen Donato

Baltimore Observations:

Tanner Vosvick scored the first goal off a 15 yard free-kick near the side line in the first half.  The free-kick was deflected into the goal by a NJSA defender. The free-kick was earned by John Jlopleh blazing past NJSA Josh Toribio who fouled him.

The second goal was scored by Romilio Hernandez on a penalty kick.  Jeremy DeGraffenreidt rambled into the box, beating Corey Atanda who promptly fouled him, earning the penalty kick.

Baltimore has good team speed.  Both the forwards, Jlopleh and Jeremy DeGraffenreidt, have exceptional speed.  In the back, Michael DeGraffenreidt has quick feet and is good for locking down the back though he has a tendency to lose his man on the far post.  

Jonathan Barron has adequate speed, as well.  Impatiently, he ran away from Alexander Ponvert who was trying to overlap.

Conversely Hernandez, while technically proficient, labors to get around the field.

Ponvert serves deep and accurate free-kicks.

Second half sub Patrick Koscher got behind the defense from a through ball by Jeremy DeGraffenreidt, but Koscher’s shot was right at the goalkeeper.

Early in the game, Ponvert passed the ball forward to Christian Porras who struck a wicked cross.  Minutes later, Porras made a tight turn, but his low hard shot was not well placed and was easily retrieved by the goalkeeper.
    
When Vosvick earned his second yellow, it changed the complexion of the game.  But both cards were legitimately earned.

NJSA Observations:

NJSA scored two late goals to earn the draw.  They lack creative attacks and are mired with lack of speed in their center backs.  Worse, the outside backs don’t support their center backs furthering exposing this deficiency leaving them on an island.

The first goal was scored by Chris Hill in the second half.  After several corner kicks, Baltimore goalkeeper Matthew Sanchez’s weak punch clearance only delayed the punishment because Corey Atanda poked the ball forward and Hill deflected it in.

The equalizing goal was scored by Ethan Decker on a legitimately awarded penalty kick.  The play started with Brendan McSherry getting the ball to Mael Corboz who made a killer pass to Decker and he was taken down in the box.

McSherry has an exceptional touch – it was a pleasure watching him calm a ball and then execute a picture-perfect pass.  

I was disappointed to see Atanda’s reaction when he was called for the penalty kick.  Yelling at the ref, the opponent – demonstrating a lack of self-control.  He’s a good athlete, but has poor defensive foot work.

Goalkeeper Stephen Donato needs to improve his foot skills for distributing the ball.  Donato made several key stops on some rockets.  Donato ran into his own defender because of a lack of communication.  He needs to set the tone and own the back.

Ryan Groffie and Josh Toribio don’t complement each other because both have a similar deficiency – lack of speed.  It would be better to match one of them with a fast central defender. Toribio is a very strong player.

Corboz is a very good passer continuously finding Zachary Bond late in the game.