Sports
Boys Soccer: Granada Upsets Livermore, 3-2
Trevor Long scores two goals for Granada, including the game-winner, to shock crosstown rival Livermore.
Granada 3, Livermore 2
Records: Granada 3-9-4, 3-3-1, Livermore 9-5-2, 4-3-0
The Stars: Trevor Long and Garrett Foster combined for all three of Granada’s goals in the upset win.
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The Turning Point: With the match tied and only seven minutes remaining, Trevor Long pokes in a rebound goal off a shot attempt from Garret Foster to win the game for Granada.
The Quote: “On paper, we’re the better team but that’s why you play the game,” Livermore coach Mike Foscalina said.
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Who's Next? Granada will host Amador Valley while Livermore will travel to California. Both games will take place Friday.
The Bottom Line: Granada got clutch goals exactly when it needed, especially Trevor Long’s game-winner with seven minutes left, to surprise its crosstown rival and pull off the 3-2 upset victory.
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On paper, it shouldn’t have even been close.
The boys soccer team, holding a share of second place in the East Bay Athletic League, looked to be the heavy favorite going into crosstown rival backyard as the Matadors were struggling with only two wins on the season. But the funny thing about crosstown rivalries is that a lot of times records don’t matter.
That proved to be true Tuesday, as Granada’s Trevor Long scored with seven minutes remaining to pull off what could be considered the biggest upset in the EBAL this year with a 3-2 win against Livermore.
“Our boys rose to the occasion tonight,” Granada coach Chris Salazar said. “Livermore is an extremely talented soccer team. If we matched up one-on-one with those guys they probably beat us, but (Granada) is one of the hardest-working teams in this league and we showed it tonight.”
Granada had to show its determination early as Livermore flexed its muscle only five minutes into the match when Hector Perez flicked in a pass off a corner kick for the game’s first goal (see video).
But that lead wouldn’t hold for long, as the Matadors needed only seven minutes for Long to tie things up with his first goal of the night. Long attacked a Livermore defender and popped the ball loose toward Nathan Preece, who took possession and sprinted toward the Livermore goal.
Preece’s shot was blocked by Livermore goalie Julio Naranjo, but Long was following behind after the defensive poke and stuck in the game-tying goal (see video).
Senior Garret Foster then gave Granada the lead just before halftime when he took a long pass from midfield and dribbled through two Livermore defenders to clear the way for a clean shot (see video).
Holding its first lead of the game, the Matadors then pushed up their physical tempo in an effort to hold the more skilled Cowboys in check. Unfortunately, that strategy didn’t work as sophomore Jesse Martinez broke through the Granada backrow and tied the game in the 62nd minute.
“The goal just came to me,” Martinez said. “The ball just got in front of me and I took the opportunity. It hit the post and then bounced toward the back of the net.”
Granada, despite admitting it was outmatched from a talent standpoint, wouldn’t be pleased with a tie against its biggest rival and pressed on for the win.
In the 73rd minute, Long got the game-winner with a goal that looked eerily similar to his first goal, only this time it was a rebound off a shot from Foster that set up Long’s win-clinching chip shot.
“Their two forwards, Long and Foster, harassed our defenders all game long,” Livermore head coach Mike Foscalina said. “They beat us to the ball a couple of times and put it in the net. They are a dangerous team up top.”
Granada, which defeated Foothill last week, will look to continue its first winning-streak of the season when it hosts Amador Valley on Thursday.
Livermore will now try an rebound from the defeat with a road test against California on Thursday.
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Granda 3, Livermore 2
Scoring Summary:
5:00 – Livermore: Hector Perez
14:00 – Granada: Trevor Long
30:00 – Granada: Garret Foster
62:00 – Livermore: Chase Martinez
73:00 – Granada: Trevor Long
Shots: Granada 8, Livermore 6
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