U-21’s Romp Into Provincial Semi Finals

Rino’s Vancouver SC U21 9 – 1 Langley United U21

On a summer-like Sunday afternoon, the hottest place in Vancouver was the back of Langley’s net as Rino’s young squad scorched the United keeper for 9 goals and matched their largest margin of victory this season. Goals were scored by 6 different players including goalkeeper Justin Roets, as the comprehensive victory sees Rino’s Vancouver SC Under-21 team advance to the BC Provincial Cup Semi Finals next weekend.

Rino’s fielded the same starting XI as they did in their previous round’s victory over West Van FC, and it didn’t take long for the consistency to pay off as the chemistry between the players was evident 15 minutes into the match. Midfielder Nicholas Riley shimmied around a defender on the right flank, and whipped a low hard cross into the path of Alex Ivanovic who hammered the ball into the back of the net to give Rino’s a 1-0 lead.

The advantage was to be doubled shortly thereafter when Nicholas Johnston dribbled into the box and a Langley defender lunged at him, raking his leg and knocking the ball free. The referee allowed the play to continue as the ball fell to the feet of Drissa Bouare, but as he attempted to side-step his defender, he was brought down and a penalty was awarded. Coach Andrew Roets surprised everyone by calling on defender Ogy Mladenov to take the shot. Mladenov sent the goalkeeper diving to his right and then calmly deposited the ball into the net.

Not content with having won a penalty for his team, Bouare then created a great chance as he stripped a Langley defender of the ball near the halfway line and carried the ball up the left wing. Strike partner, Alex Ivanovic was waiting patiently in front of goal for what would have been a tap-in, but Bouare elected to shoot, and unfortunately his low drive to the far post was kicked out by the Langley keeper. However, shortly before half-time Ivanovic was sprung for a breakaway by a through-ball from Taylor Dickau. Ivanovic’s first strike was parried by the keeper, but he did well to hold off a defender and get his own rebound which he put home for a 3-0 Rino’s half-time lead.

The second half saw numerous substitutions made by coach Roets as he got his entire bench into the game, but that did little to slow down the team’s momentum as the fresh legs paid instant dividends. Within a minute of the restart, a free kick from the left was floated into the Langley penalty and met on the volley by Drissa Bouare, who celebrated his fine strike with an even more impressive backflip!

The onslaught continued as 2 excellent goals by Jako Fuat were split by a tidy Koju Kojwang finish, bringing the team’s tally to 7. Fuat then won a penalty, which was converted by Rino’s goalkeeper Justin Roets! Langley then managed to peg 1 goal back, but it was eventually Fuat who rounded out the scoring on the day as his 3rd goal completed his hat-trick and ended a nightmare afternoon for the visitors.

Rino’s Vancouver SC will now host Victoria Highlanders of the Vancouver Island Soccer League in the Semi Finals of the BC Soccer Men’s Provincial Under 21 Doug Day Cup. The match will take place on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at Andy Livingstone. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00pm.