Based on statistics, one could have expected the Westside Afterburners to lose against the Wailua Kryptonite. But for every losing streak, there is a beginning and an end. The Westside brought their streak to an end on Sunday, February 24.
Based on statistics, one could have expected the Westside Afterburners to lose against the Wailua Kryptonite. But for every losing streak, there is a beginning and an end. The Westside brought their streak to an end on Sunday, February 24. They did it in the final four minutes of the game, and beat the Kryptonite 2-1.
Both teams were unable to gain an advantage in the first half with the score remaining 0-0 after forty-five minutes. In the second half, the action heated up, and players let their emotions control their bodies.
Ben Klinefelter was ejected after steer tackling an opponent, and it left the Kryptonite with only ten players.
Rob Snider, manager for the Kryptonite, released his anger on the ball, sending his free kick rocketing at the cross bar, which in turn deflected across the line, making it a 1-0 game.
Unfortunately for Wailua, a head butt was delivered in typical Kit Owen style, leaving the team with nine players, and a tough defensive position.
Eric Desenberg took advantage of his teams numbers and scored twice in the last five minutes, leaving the Wailua team reeling, wondering what happened as they walked off the field in defeat.
One Sunday later, the Afterburners came to Wailua Homestead field ready to work over the Hanalei Soccer Team, a club they hadn’t beat in an excruciatingly long time.
The Afterburners did it again. They not only beat Hanalei 1-0, but started a two-game win streak.
Hanalei has been suffering from an unproductive offense and needed to get some points on the board in order to revive its momentum.
But with another two scoreless halves under their belt, their woes seem far from over.
Marc Perales came out of goal in the second half, and moved up to forward where he has been deadly all season. He received a through pass from Adrian Nicolas and sped past his defender. Marc scored with a great shot, smudging goaltender Bobby Tangelder’s otherwise brilliant game.
Congratulations to the Westside Afterburners for not giving up after such a tough start to their season.
