Chargers tie after a game marred with yellow cards

Royce Martinez
attacks in the first half.

Cypress, CA - In a game which the Chargers (3-1-3) are assessed 14 fouls and 6 yellow cards, score their own goal, must feel fortunate to come away with a tie. Cypress ties Southwestern (5-1-1) 2-2 in a game that loses composure in the early going.  Southwestern has its share of 8 fouls and 4 yellow cards.

Southwestern comes into the game with a high confidence after outscoring 6 opponents 23-6 and 3 of those are shutouts.  Cypress is playing without its key players Pedro Santos, Christian Obreshkov, Ryan Jara due to injuries, but what it really misses is the leadership of Brett Mackay who is likely to be done with the season after an ankle injury at Cuyamaca. Abdullah Qasi is activated from academic eligibility and contributes with confidence on the offense.  Southwestern gets on the board first with a goal from Sergio Villalva, but Charger Sweeper Sebastian Calderon finds the net at the 36-minute mark to tie the game.

Entering the second half, Southwestern is awarded a corner kick only that Michael McKay mistakenly taps the ball into his own net to allow Southwestern a 2-1 lead. Later on, McKay makes it up by saving a goal from a Southwestern corner kick.  At the 49th minute, Milan Engholm is being fouled inside the penalty box and the Chargers are given a PK which Chris Berkley slaps it into the net to tie the game 2-2.

The Chargers open conference play against Irvine Valley on September 25.


Contact: htran@cypresscollege.edu