In a game that took nearly a week’s time to complete, Christos remained dominant, coming away with a 5-2 win.
Once again, Annapolis would concede first, just eight minutes in. Gavin Carmichael, from the right side of the pitch, lifted a 30-yard diagonal ball into the box that curled and dropped on the head of Samuel Walker. Attempting to come and collect, Emigdio Tormo Lopez left his line to contend for the ball but was beaten by Walker who arrived first. Rising above the Blues defenders, Walker’s header looped over Tormo Lopez and was headed towards the empty net but was finished off by Anthony Dragisics who headed it across the line.
Nicholas Richardson was awarded a yellow card in the 17th minute, the first of the match, as the Blues began to generate an attack along the left wing.
In scoring a SportsCenter Top 10 worthy goal, Taku Takahashi would equalize, pulling things level in the 28th minute. With the ball bouncing around the midfield, Takahashi’s one-two linkup with Tyler Gabarra began from a first-time kneed pass that found the head of Gabarra, who returned the ball into the path of Takahashi. The American University defender took one touch as the ball bobbled on the pitch in his stride before unleashing an absolute rocket from 30 yards out that flew into the top right corner, leaving Aden Mills without a chance.
However, Christos was awarded a penalty kick in the 26th minute. The very nonchalant run up by Ryan Calheira sent Tormo Lopez diving the to his left as Calheira placed his finish directly down the middle. Max Viera was then awarded a yellow card in the 34th minute following a challenge in the middle of the field as he attempted to slow down the Christos attack.
The match was stopped in the 37th minute and permanently delayed, taking days until play would resume.
Christos added a third to the tally in the 54th minute after Blues goalkeeper Zach Cielewich received a back pass from Dan Klink. Cielewich’s first touch was quite poor and very loose, ultimately falling directly at the feet of Samuel Walker who finished the first-time opportunity into the empty net. Francisco Hidalgo scored a first-time bar-down shot from the top of the box in the 64th minute that went over the head of Cielewich, only furthering the deficit for Annapolis.
Ben McGovern pulled one back for the Blues in stoppage time, but it was too late as the game ended just seconds later, seeing Annapolis drop to Christos by a final score of 4-2. The Blues final match of the season will take place on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30pm against Charlottesville Blues at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
