Soccer: DVAL Battle For First Ends In 0-0 Tie

The mid-season battle for first place in the Diablo Valley Athletic League between Concord High (8-0-3) and Ygnacio Valley High (11-2-2) ended in a 0-0 tie Thursday evening.

The teams were closely matched and both created plenty of opportunities in front of the goal, but neither was ultimately able to put the ball in the back of the net.

Despite Ygnacio Valley’s midfield creating opportunities with precise, quick passes near the top of the box, Concord’s defensive third kept them out of the box.

“We know that they are very quick on the counterattack, so we changed our formation to try and control more of the midfield to try and take their counterattack away,” said Stuart Watson, Concord's coach.

The Concord High boys created opportunities through strategy - nearly every free kick taken by the Minutemen threatened the Ygnacio Valley Warriors' goal.

“We figured if we’re going to have an opportunity to beat them it’ll be off a set piece,” Watson said.

The goalkeepers had busy nights as both offenses went back and forth the entire game. The teams attacked non-stop in search of the goal that would earn them a win and first place on DVAL standings.

One of Concord’s free kicks was dangerous late in the first half. After a Minutemen player kicked the ball into the box, Travis Watson jumped and headed the ball just over the Warriors’ goalie.

The ball seemed to be sure to cross the goal line, but Ygnacio Valley’s Osmar Campo ran across the width of the goal, from the right to the left post, to prevent the score, clearing the ball out of the box.

The level of physical play increased in the second half of the game.

“At halftime we decided to go a little bit more offensive, we decided to go with three forward to play a little bit more direct,” said Chavez. “It’s not our style, but we had to adjust to the field and the conditions.”

Players challenged each other, using their bodies to try to shield the ball away from their opponent and racing side by side to reach the ball first.

That aggressiveness from both teams resulted in more fouls, several yellow cards and a scuffle that nearly turned into an all-out 11-on-11 fight.

Concord’s goalkeeper Emmanuel Jimenez rushed the scene of the near-fight and calmed down the teammate involved in the heated exchange.

“When there was that little altercation in the first half [Jimenez] was out there pulling players away, keeping them level headed,” Watson said.

Jimenez’s leadership from the goal proved vital for the Minutemen late in the game. As Ygnacio Valley’s offensive third attacked, Jimenez directed his defense to favorable positions that stopped the opponent.

“If I had to give a player of the match for us, it would be our keeper, because I thought he directed the defense extremely well,” said Watson.