Following a midweek victory over Virginia Marauders FC, the Annapolis Blues returned to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium desiring another three points.
An undefeated powerhouse taking on a newcomer to the league. In a battle of two top teams, Northern Virginia FC (NOVA FC) kept to its regular plans, not pressing but rather sitting in deep with a low-to-mid-block and looking to utilize the counterattack. The Blues, on the other hand, threw numbers forward, staying true to form by building out of the back and looking to attack at all costs. This would costly in a 2-1 loss.
Rafael Machado delivered some verbal after affairs toward the referee and received a yellow card in the 15th minute. Shortly after, Matty Helfrich received the match’s second yellow of the game for an earlier foul on a NOVA FC attacker, with the referee playing advantage its attack. During the same stoppage of play, Machado was substituted off for Benjamin Fisher. Adding to the Blues’ bookings, Noah Satriano received a yellow in the 21st minute after he attempted to stop a NOVA FC attack roughly 10 yards outside of the box.
Conceding first has been a consistent theme this season for the Blues, and one that continued, as Gage Lyons scored his fourth goal of the season in the 30th minute. Jeffrey Wohlfeiler swung in a ball from the left side of the field, in between the end line and 18-yard box. The left back’s delivery curled perfectly into the middle of the box and was met by the head of Lyons, who was unmarked and free in space. The standout attacker headed the ball past Emigdio Tormo Lopez from seven yards out, putting NOVA FC up 1-0.
On the cusp of halftime, Chris Niblock received the fourth yellow card of the first half, and first for NOVA FC. Between the two sides, there were 16 fouls committed through the opening 45 minutes of play, a half that saw the Blues maintain 55 percent possession.
Matthew Lenert, who scored twice in Thursday’s 3-0 win, equalized for the Blues in the 50th minute. Annapolis knew something needed to change, and it did just that. Going against the Blues’ regular identity of building out of the back, Fisher played a long ball from his defensive half, going direct to find Lenert in stride. Picking the ball up 30 yards out from goal, the 6’4” attacker took on his defender, beating him with pace. Lenert drove inside the box and fired home a shot from the left side that beat Andrew Hartman at his near post.
Things started to heat up in the 60th minute after Niblock’s attempt to put NOVA ahead, off the back of a counterattack, hit the top right corner where the post and crossbar combine. Minutes later, Niblock once again found himself inside the box, but rather cut inside and unleashed a curled shot towards goal, His shot took a deflection off Kobe Keomany and found the NOVA FC left winger at the back post, just inside the six-yard box. He chested it down and chipped it over the head of the onrushing Tormo Lopez. However, Ian Webb-Johnson had other plans in mind, as he rushed back towards the goal line to make a last second clearance.
The visitors were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute after the referee deemed Helfrich went through the back of Jonathan Rivera as he attempted to win the 50/50 ball. James Quill stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted it home, straight down the middle, as Tormo Lopez dove to the left.
Rivera, who drew the penalty kick for NOVA, was then sent off in the 96th minute after receiving a straight red card for a two footed, studs up tackle on Helfrich. The Blues will stay at home for its next match, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Virginia Beach United on Wednesday, June 18. Annapolis will need to hit a solid run of form, as only the top two teams from each division clinch a spot in the postseason play.
