Blues rally to earn place in CISAA Final.

It seemed that for once, the most predictable thing about our upcoming semi-final game would be the weather. Cold and wet has been the theme for most of this season and that’s precisely what we got. Also anticipated was the fact that the well-coached St. Andrew’s team would come fully prepared to do their best to avenge their regular season loss to the Blues, and as reliable as the bad weather, they delivered.

For the first ten minutes or so, things looked good for the Blues, as we were passing with confidence and maintaining possession. The tide gradually turned however, as the much-improved Saints held firm and then began to dominate. Their left flank, led by a speedy and skillful #12 (Alejandro Herrejon), was particularly threatening and indeed it was he who opened the scoring in the 20^th minute with a beautiful shot to the top corner from 30 yards out. The Blues, initially stunned, regained composure and sought a way through the SAC defense. The Saints’ back line played the trap to great effect and we had two goals called back for offsides, one goal by Eitan Rosen in the 25^th minute, and then a second, in the 34^th minute, by Mark Yatchew. The skillful and physical chess match was on, with both teams pressing and probing and neither team yielding. At the end of the first half, the score was UCC 0 – SAC 1.

An exchange at the final whistle of the first half resulted in an SAC player receiving his second yellow card and the Saints began the second half a man down. Despite this, their continued pressure and quick, accurate passing led to a second goal in the 65^th minute, this time from #10 (Isaac Bradbury): UCC 0 – SAC 2. Once again, the Blues, led by their stalwart Captain PJ Bujouves in the midfield, worked hard to control possession and patiently find a way through. In the 70^th minute, we had a third goal, this time by Daniel Cooper, called back for offside. Undaunted, a minute later, the Blues finally opened their scoring. From a corner, a deflection found Eitan Rosen at the top of the area. He settled the ball and quickly hit it, low, hard and straight into the bottom far corner of the net. UCC 1 – SAC 2. Both teams were in peak form now but as time wore on, the Blues penetrated with slightly more urgency. In the 82^nd minute came the much needed equalizer. Off another corner, a Mark Yatchew header looped over th SAC keeper into the top corner. Then, in the 85^th minute, the Blues were finally able to solve the SAC defense. Off an SAC free kick, Eitan created the turn-over and quickly delivered a long, curling pass in behind the SAC defenders. A sprinting Luka Chu beat two defenders to the ball and from 25 yards out, stroked it pass the onrushing SAC keeper for the all important go-ahead goal. UCC 3 – SAC 2. Marching back up the field, the Saints offensive pressure earned them a free kick. It was well-taken and veteran Blues keeper Jeremy Zhang was forced to make an excellent save. A minute later, a second SAC player was shown his second yellow card and now the Saints were down two men. In the 90^th minute, Eitan scored his second goal of the game with another fine shot to make it UCC 4 – SAC 2. Now into injury time, the Saints’ never-say-die attitude kept them deep in our end, despite being short-handed by two. A scramble around our goal won them a penalty kick which #4 (Christopher Marton) quickly dispatched, to get them within a goal. Shortly after, Justin Kim was sent off after his second yellow. The game continued, with both teams, the Blues and the Saints, playing their hearts out, down to their last ounces of strength, just as these two great rivals have so often done down through the years. On this day though, the Blues managed to hold on and at the final whistle, it was UCC 4 – SAC 3.

Man of the Match: Eitan Rosen. Honourable Mention: Justin Kim

The Blues would like to thank all their fans who yet again braved the elements and who cheered us on through to the last, nail-biting minute of this well-contested match. On Wednesday, November 7^th the Blues will host their fourth consecutive CISAA Final. Our visitors will be Appleby College, who also overcame a 2 goal deficit to beat St. Mike's in their semifinal. Kick-off will be at 10:45 am on our Oval.