Late Ryan Condotta goal lifts Keller past Coppell
Published 2/18/2011 10:46:55 PM by staff from dallas
It was a battle for second place in 7-5A Friday night as Coppell made the trip to Keller to play the Indians. Both teams were sitting tied for second place behind Southlake who has beaten them both in the first half of district play.
The match started very slowly as both teams felt each other out in the early going. It was a battle in the midfield neither side generated much of any attack. I would have hoped for a bit more urgency in such an important game, but it just didn't materialize as the opening half dragged on. Keller's Ryan Condotta was looking good for Keller s he continually got into good places.
Finally in the closing minutes of the first half Keller got down the right side. A good cross to the backpost found a free runner, but he flubbed his finish. The ball bounced up and off the crossbar where it was headed home from close range. The celebration was on, until they realized the linesman had his flag up for offside. The match went to halftime scoreless.
The second half was much of the same as there just weren't many meaningful attacks in the match. Ryan Condotta got loose once and rifled a shot wide from 20 yards out midway thru the half. Just after Condotta's effort Coppel got a glorious chance. A good ball found a Coppell player loose down the right side and he raced in on goal. The Keller keeper was caught off his line, but the chip bounced of the crossbar and away.
With less than 5 minutes to go the match looked destined for a scoreless draw. That's when a bit of magic from Condotta decided the game. He picked up a ball 25 yards from goal and beat both Coppell centerbacks as he raced in on goal. The Coppell keeper got a piece of the shot, but could only watch helplessly as the ball found the net for a huge Keller win.
Label: Keller soccer, Ryan Condotta, Coppell soccer
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