Saturday night at Manhattan Village resulted in another big Doxa win, as the reigning Champions marched towards another league title. John Gerard again had a strong panel of players to choose from, and decided to start in a 4-5-1
formation, playing 3 battling midfielders in behind lone forward Derk Droze. That changed less than 10 minutes into the game, when Eric Kaufman took a heavy tackle in midfield, resulting in blood immediately bursting through his sock! (*Kaufman ended up getting 6 stitches) Raul Palomares subbed in and took up more of an attacking midfielder role. Doxa’s first good effort came through Chad Evans. Evans drove a shot from 25 yards out that the PSA keeper managed to palm out of the top corner. PSA then had a few opportunities, one of note was Nate Reeves through ball to the PSA striker. Brandon Avery stood tall in the Doxa net, scaring the forward into knocking the ball well wide.
The first goal of the game came through an unlikely source – Brandon Avery. The Doxa keeper mis-kicked a clearance right over the PSA midfield line, and after 3 players mis judged the flight of the ball, it landed at the feet of an unrushing Ilia Nazarov. The quick Russian burst away from all defenders and calmly placed the ball in the bottom corner for his 3rd goal of the CSL season. The lead didn’t last long though, as a long ball fell to the feet of a PSA forward, who slid the ball past Avery. The sides went in at half level at 1-1.
Eric Kaufman - 6 stitches
The second half got off to a similar start to the first, with Doxa having the majority of possession. There were some great chances for Raul Palomares and Ryan Taylor, before Nazarov got his 2nd of the game and 4th of the season. Sean Lockhart was the man who created the goal, dicing some defender on the left before cutting a ball back to Nazarov at the top of the box. Again Nazarov supplied a tidy finish. Right after that goal, Gerard decided to make some changes, bringing Derk Droze back into the game, while introducing Bryan Byrne back after a 6 week absense. The change paid off within five minutes as Byrne got Doxa’s third. Some tidy passing between Droze and Lockhart, left Byrne free just inside the area. He took a touch towards the endline before placing a deft chip over the keeper and into the net. Doxa wrapped up the game with 5 minytes remaining with a bizarre goal. After Droze got clattered in his own half, the ball broke to Marcus Watson who played a long ball into the PSA half. Ryan Taylor, 2 defenders and the goalkeeper all ran towards the ball, Taylor backed out, leaving one of the defenders to head the ball over his onrushing keeper (from 25 yards) and into the net!
The win leaves Doxa 4 points clear at the top with 3 games remaining. Next weekend see’s Doxa make the long trip out to Corona.
Starting Line Up:
1. Brandon Avery
2. Nate Reeves
3. Marcus Watson
4. Eric Meister
5. Nas Koubouras
6. Dave Adams
7. Eric Kaufman
8. Chad Evans
9. Sean Lockhart
10. Ilia Nazarov
11. Derk Droze
12. Sean Lockhart
13. Ricky Figueroa
14. Ryan Taylor
15. Raul Palomares
16. Bryan Byrne
17. Tai Doan
