Chantilly Fuego!

September 23, Chantilly, VA

The FUEGO went into Sunday’s game against the rival CYA Rumble expecting a tough, physical game, and that’s exactly what they got.

They also expected it to be a tight, close game, and in the end, it was that also, although for a while it looked as if the Fuego were going to cruise to a surprisingly easy victory.

The game started fast, with both teams getting chances early.  The speedy Rumble defense kept Jazz and Amanda well covered, but Kristen and Nina found space on the outside to move the ball up the field.  Still, finding open shots was difficult. 

The Rumble also found space on the outside, and on one such break-away, Caroline made her first of many terrific saves on a hard shot from just inside the penalty area about five minutes into the game. 

Shortly afterwards, Kennia made a terrific slide tackle on another Rumble breakaway to deny the attacker a point-blank shot on goal.  It was one of the defensive plays of the year to date.

In the middle of the field, Ellie and Aby took charge and pressured every ball, winning most of them.  But repeated attempts to send the ball deep up the middle failed, so the Fuego began to work the ball around to try and find an opening.  Several times Jazz, Kristen and Morgan combined along the right side to move the ball deeper into Rumble territory, with Nina and Aby doing likewise on the left. 

The increased pressure paid off, and on a long kick in from Morgan, the defense played the ball well, but a Rumble defender misplayed a pass back to the goalie, and Brooke pounced on the loose ball and drilled it into the back of the net, giving the Fuego the 1-0 lead.

The Fuego didn’t ease up on the pressure, and shortly afterwards Sara took a long kick that the goalie swatted away.  But on the ensuing corner, Katie lofted a gorgeous ball that just caught the wind and curled in towards the goal.  The goalie got a finger on it, but it didn’t stop the ball from its path into the back of the net. The goal put the Fuego up 2-0 at the half.

The Rumble came out hard to start the second half and put the Fuego back on their heels.  But the defense, Pauline, Kennia, Marika, Sara and Morgan, plus help from Aby, Ellie and Katie, and several spectacular saves from co-Frankenball winner Caroline, kept the Rumble off the scoreboard.

Slowly the Fuego began to recapture momentum by passing their way out of trouble, and up the field.  But play was getting chippy, with lots of pushing, bumping and collisions.  At one point a Rumble player stumbled into Nina’s elbow, resulting in a yellow card for Nina.

Moments later, the Fuego won a free kick from about 35 yards out.  Co-Frankenball winner Katie sent the ball towards goal.  Sabrine, who was closely marked, never the less made a fantastic effort to get around her defender and put a hard shot in on goal.  The ball bounded off the goalie, right to Brooke, who also got off a shot that the goalie blocked, but the ball bounced loose, and Rhi, streaking in from the left, slammed it home to give the Fuego a comfortable 3-0 lead.

But the game was far from over.  With more than 20 minutes to play, the Rumble began to put relentless pressure on the Fuego, pinning them deep in their own end.  Again and again the Fuego defense denied the Rumble players.  At one point, Caroline came out of her goal to block a shot, and the ball got away from her, but Sara ran behind her and cleared the ball out from in front of the goal before the Rumble could react.  Caroline made several more terrific saves to try and preserve the shut-out.

But the Rumble are a very dangerous team, and they finally broke through on a long shot that just got over Caroline’s fingers and under the crossbar. 

With a little more than 15 minutes to play, the Rumble increased their pressure, but the defense held, and the Rumble got no clear shots.  Then a collision in the penalty area resulted in a questionable penalty.  The Rumble converted and cut the score to 3-2.

Suddenly, the Fuego were in a real fight.  The Rumble stepped up the pressure and the Fuego scrambled to keep them at bay.  Finally, Rhi got the ball off a corner kick and dribbled out of the zone.  The momentum changed from there.  The Fuego had a few more shots on goal, but the Rumble did not and shortly afterwards the Fuego walked off the field victorious.

This was an especially satisfying win for the Fuego.  The Rumble are an excellent team and an established WAGS power.  In addition, many Fuego players have friends and ex-teammates on the Rumble, making this a “friendly” rivalry, and one that will likely continue on into the coming seasons. 

The victory kept the Fuego in a tie for first with the surprising Reston Shock.  Up next, the ABGC Venom.

Nina and Aby Combine to get the ball deep

in the Fuego's 3-2 win over the Rumble

(click to play)