Last night’s Calvo’s Insurance Men’s Futsol League semifinals saw the regular season frontrunners Quality Distributors take an easy, 8-2 win over the Cobras at the Astumbo School Gymnasium in Dededo.
The team, which took a single loss in the regular season, stands to battle the winners of a subsequent game between Guam Shipyard and the Paintco Strykers last night, though the result of the game was not available as of press time.
Matthew Welton, a consistent top scorer for the Distributors – no different last night – said the win all came down to a solid strategy.
“We worked the ball well from the back,” he said. “There was solid cross-passing, when someone from the back threw us a pass, we could score every time. We kept the level up and came out strong in the second half and pretty much dampened their spirits and didn’t let them back in the game.”
Taking the field with equal measures of energy, both teams were surely at the gym to give it everything they had.
It wasn’t long before the Distributors’ Jonahan Romero knocked a solid kick past Cobras’ goal keep, John Reyes for the team’s first goal. Less than a minute later, Andre Gadia took another goal for Quality.
Next up, it was the Cobras who would take control of the game with a swift shot on goal from Jan Flores that rang true, overcoming Quality goalie Rodney Camacho. Vinacio Sioco came through about a minute and a half later with a successful shot as well, tying up the score only about ten minutes into the game.
As the first half wore on, Quality began to overtake the Cobras in hustle – but it wasn’t easily won. Welton cracked a shot in with about 10 minutes to the half, giving his team a slight edge, which was supplemented with a goal about two minutes later from Romero on an assist from Welton.
Welton said his style of play – sometimes requiring some thick skin – is to go at it as hard as possible for as long as possible.
“We’re a pretty defensive minded team,” he said. “But I try to use the full court – spread their players out a bit and make sure we’re working from end to end – that way we get a few more opportunities. I just try to play as hard as I can when I’m in.”
Serving as a case in point, Welton went on to open the second half with two consecutive goals against the Cobras, pretty much sealing the deal for his team.
After several minutes of intense defensive play – the Cobras not acquiescing easily – Cory Smith nabbed a goal for his team, Eric Sotto moments later picking up the team’s final goal.
The Distributors will take to the court one final time for the championship game at the gym on Sunday at 7 p.m. The league’s consolation game will occur at 6 p.m.
With a shot at the league 2010 title and while sticking around to see who they’re opponents will be, Welton said that the Distributors will continue to do what has largely worked all season.
“Both teams are really good, it’ll be a tough game whoever it is,” he said. “But we’ll just stick to our game plan and our passes, play defensively minded and the goals will come.”
