The Sanchez Sharks and Okkodo Bulldogs were eager to get their ISA Boys Soccer match underway Wednesday evening with the leagues 2nd place spot up for grabs. The game was delayed nearly 30 minutes due to only having one official show up to the game, which nearly called off the action. Both teams agreed to play the game with just one official which ended in favor of the Sharks, winning the close contest 1-0.
Sanchez got the games only goal in the 26th minute from striker Drake Fejerang, who used just one touch off a cross pass from teammate Noah Escalona to net the biggest play of the day.
“It was a good cross so I just ran in and hoped for the best when I shot it. It played out way better than I expected,” said Fejerang on scoring the games only goal.
The Sharks offense, though opportunistic, didn’t exactly showcase their full potential against Okkodo and they know they’ve got to do a better job on capitalization.
“I know we can do way better than this,” said Fejerang on how he judged his teams offense. “We just need to improve on getting open and getting a better through ball.”
Okkodo’s offense were the aggressor all game which meant a busy evening of work for Sharks starting keeper Ranti Sy, who admitted the pressure from today’s game was fairly big.
“Not going to lie, the pressure was really on… Those Okkodo players hit us with some of the best shots ever. But that’s what practice is for, we have the same amount of players who can take the same kinds of shots so we feel like we can stop any ball if we put our mind to it,” said Sy.
Sy left the game with a hand injury midway through the second half, but the confidence Sy and the Sharks had in replacement Charles Almonte neve waivered.
“For Almonte, we don’t put pressure on him and we train the same amount. Whether I go down or he goes down, we’re always ready to go back up,” said Sy.
The Sharks sit behind the unbeaten JFK Islanders at 3-1-1 while the Bulldogs fall for just the second time all season at 3-2.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
SSHS Shark John Medina goes against OHS Bulldog Austin Apatang for the ball. (Photo by Michael Blas)
OHS Bulldog John Perez fights for the ball against SSHS Shark Noah Escalona. (Photo by Michael Blas)
OHS Bulldog Eugene Guerrero sprints down field to make a play. (Photo by Michael Blas)
SSHS Shark KK Kaminanga looks for a pass against OHS Bulldog Adam Gimenez. (Photo by Michael Blas)
OHS Bulldog Bryant Ignacio and SSHS Shark Larry Guiang battle for the ball at midfield. (Photo by Michael Blas)
SSHS Shark KK Kaminanga fights for possession against the Bulldog defenders. (Photo by Michael Blas)
SSHS Shark Drake Fejerang finds a shot for the only goal of the game. (Photo by Michael Blas)
The head referee gathers the coaches together to explain match options for having one referee present. (Photo by Michael Blas)
SSHS Shark Codie Pasana makes a pass through OHS Bulldog Zaven Piolo. (Photo by Michael Blas)
SSHS Shark Rantidev Sy locks down the goal preventing the OHS Bulldogs from getting on the board. (Photo by Michael Blas)
OHS Bulldog Jayven Mendiola takes a shot at goal on a free kick. (Photo by Michael Blas)