It was an eventful EPSL Northeast Championship game in Burlington, Mass on Sunday. Familiar foes Sete Setembro and Boston City FC were the two sides left standing after a long fall season.
The game began with both teams feeling each other out working the ball around the back without much pressure. As soon as the first challenge occured the temperature of the game flipped. Yellow cards were shown in abundance, with the main chance of the first half coming from a deflection from a cross in which the Boston City keeper made a sprawling athletic save to keep the game scoreless at the half.
After the intermission it all kicked off with a Boston City FC coach getting shown a second yellow for his disagreement with the in game referee. Sete seamed to relish this opportunity as Boston City were trying to regroup and cool their emotions. Sete soon capitalized as a questionable penalty was awarded in favor of Sete. Former Atletico Mineiro midfielder Tcho made no mistake as he dispatched his penalty in the top right corner.
The game became a scramble with Boston City chasing the game attempting to equalize. In the 90th minute a Sete player was shown a straight red when he put in a rash challenge on a Boston City midfielder. In the dying moments a Boston City FC free kick turned disastrous when City was dispossessed at the top of the box. Sete then played a long ball to USA futsal international Alencar Ventura Junior who was played in, was dragged down from behind. This resulted in a dogso (denial of goal scoring opportunity) red card just outside the box. Former LA Galaxy reservist Paolo Le Petit lined up the free kick and curled a perfect left footed ball around the wall and out of reach of the Boston City keeper clinching victory.
For Sete Setembro this win means they will take on the EPSL spring season winner, with the victor advancing to the EPSL nationals. After the final whistle I was able to chat with Boston City FC ace and former Bryant University and UMass Lowell midfielder Felipe Cypriano. Cypriano mentioned he was disappointed with the referee decisions on the field, but is looking forward to the spring season and USL 2 season, which he had to miss last year due to injury.
Speaking of injuries, prior to the match I had an opportunity to speak with former New England Revolution academy defender and current Sete player Lucas Almeida. Almeida has been recovering from a meniscal injury in his knee. Almeida hopes to be ready soon to help Sete continue their push to nationals.
Comments