Photo Courtesy of Annapolis Blues
The Annapolis Blues faced off against DMV Elite this past weekend, the second meeting between the two sides this season. The Blues rose to victory after a shaky first half, ultimately coming out on top 4-1.
DMV Elite opened the scoring in the 17th minute. However, the Blues would waste no time and grab an equalizer in the 25th minute. Toshi Davis stepped up to take a freekick from the right wing, around 20 yards outside of the box. Curling in a cross, the ball found the head of Alex Abril, then bounced off the leg of a DMV Elite defender, and finally fell at the feet of Leo Palomo who tapped in his chance from the goal line.
Both sides tested the waters, receiving one yellow card each after a couple harsh tackles. Just one minute later the Blues were awarded a penalty kick after Alex Wroblewski was taken down in the box. It would be Wroblewski who would step up to the spot, filling in for Blues’ usual penalty kick taker Matias De Jesus who was not on the team sheet for Saturday night’s match. Wroblewski’s penalty was saved by the DMV Elite goalkeeper, keeping the score tied at 1-1 going into the half.
The second half was a much more typical performance for the Blues, as Mikey Revell opened up the scoring early on. Receiving a slipped through ball in stride, Revell darted into the box. One-on-one, Revell slotted the ball in between the legs of the onrushing DMV Elite goalkeeper, putting the Blues up 2-1. It was Revell who would secure his brace and increase the Blues lead. Off the back of a chipped ball over the DMV Elite defense, Wroblewski challenged the goalkeeper outside the box, beating him to the ball and getting a touch, which ultimately took a deflection after soaring in the air. Revell then rose above the DMV Elite defender who had made a recovery run, and headed it home into the empty net.
Luke Dunne put the game to bed, scoring his sole goal of the match and securing the win. Dribbling down the right wing, Dunne cut inside and made his way to the edge of the box. After taking on a defender and entering into the box, Dunne fired home a low shot that beat the goalkeeper at his near post. The Blues return home for its next two matches, the first of which will take place on June 29—a 7 p.m. kickoff against Virginia Beach FC. The following week, the Blues take on Grove Soccer United in its final match of the regular season. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corp Memorial stadium.
