Saturday, May 28, 2011
WINTER PARK, Fla. — The Central Florida Kraze (4-0-1, 13 points) needed a big win on Saturday in order to put pressure on the Mississippi Brilla to win on Monday for the lone U.S. Open Cup berth from the PDL Southeastern Division. They achieved just that with a 3-0 victory against the IMG Bradenton Academics (1-3-1, 4 points) on Saturday evening at Showalter Field.
The Kraze will now wait on Monday’s game between the Brilla and Nashville Metros. A victory by Mississippi against Nashville would put both teams at 4-0-0, but the Kraze would be the odd team out due to goal differential if the Brilla win by a two-goal margin.
“The boys did all we could ask of them and now we must wait and see were our fate lies with Monday’s result,” Kraze coach Joe Avallone said. “It would be a shame to be perfect in U.S. Open Cup Qualifying and not get a shot to play in such a prestigious tournament”.
After a scoreless first half, Central Florida came out strongly after the break and tallied its first score when Ezequiel Pedraza headed the ball into the Academics’ net off a service from Matt McFarland in the 59th minute. The Kraze would make the score 2-0 when again McFarland played a ball into Abdul Berkia who rifled a shot from 30 yards out in the 74th minute. The final tally of the night was by Jabari Garibaldi in the 84th minute on a ball played to him inside the Bradenton penalty area by Nicolas Russo to give his side a 3-0 victory.
Russo was just signed by the Central Florida Kraze and is currently only sixteen years of age. He is the youngest Central Florida Kraze player to ever record a point for the club.
Keneil Baker recorded his third shutout in five matches and was helped by a great defensive display by McFarland, Pedraza, Sean Hart and Daniel Sackman.
If the Kraze fail to earn the U.S. Open Cup berth they will put full attention on the PDL Championship and a return to the playoffs in the pursuit of a second PDL championship after their victory in 2004.
Reprinted with permission from USLSoccer.com
