Deportivo Italia [4] vs. Three Lions [1]
The top-ranked Three Lions squad came out strong in the first match of playoffs, dominating possession for the first 20 minutes. Despite the solid start, Deportivo Italia would score first, which seemed to shake up Three Lions’ team chemistry. Despite the flow of the game being equal between opponents, Deportivo would head into halftime with a 2-0 lead, after scoring for a second time off a beautifully laced corner kick that was bent around the keeper.
Deportivo would start the second half with a goal off a lovely free kick from 20 yards out, and would continue to prove deadly on set pieces throughout the rest of the game. Three Lions were able to shift momentum a bit and put themselves back in the game after grabbing a goal off a well-placed corner kick, but match MVP, Jared Kenda, would put a comeback out of reach.
Kenda would contribute to two goals in relatively quick succession. The first came as he burned down the line, slotting the ball across the face of the goal to a teammate to go up 4-1, followed by Kenda beating out Lions keeper, Sean Snyder, with a shot from just inside the 18 to extend the Deportivo goal count to 5. Before the final whistle, Deportivo would find the back of the net twice more to advance the squad to the finals, topping the previously undefeated Three Lions squad 7-1.
Seattle Americans [2] vs. Washington Crane [3]
The first half of the second semifinal saw Seattle Americans and Washington Crane evenly matched in terms of possession and intensity. No real scoring chances appeared for either team during the first 45 minutes, and the game entered halftime 0-0.
Early into the second half Washington Crane had their first real opportunity, breaking through the Seattle Americans defense. With an open net, Washington Crane’s attacker rang the shot off the post, keeping the score at nil. In the twentieth minute, Seattle Americans finally broke the barrier, with a magnificent strike by #20 from 28 yards out that put the squad up 1-0. After going down a goal, Washington Crane responded well and tied up the game off an unfortunate rebound by the Seattle Americans keeper.
With approximately 15 minutes left in the game, Andy Wolverton bent a left footed shot far post to take the lead for Seattle Americans. This 2-1 lead would stand and the Seattle Americans moved on to face Deportivo Italia in the Championship.
SPSL Finals – Seattle Americans vs Deportivo Italia
It didn’t take too long for the Seattle Americans get their game going. Like a well-oiled machine, their passing was crisp and precise and their presence domineering for large stretches of the first half. Fifteen minutes into the first half, Richie Evoy was the first to find the mark when he managed to poke in a scrappy goalmouth scramble. Evoy would bank hissecond goal of the game, and third for the team, when Steve Spencer delivered a beautiful cross to a wide-open Evoy who chested it down and slotted it into the bottom left hand corner.
As the half went on, Deportivo Italia seemed to find their stride and creep back into the game, displaying more touches, control and composure on the ball, and held possession well for the last five minutes. Despite the improvement in play, Deportivo were unable to convert, and the half ended with Seattle Americans leading 3-0.
The second half start off much like the first with the Seattle Americans back in control and Richie Evoy in the thick of the action. Evoy threatened to extend the lead when he teased the defense with a fantastic turn only to launch a shot wide of the goal. In the 54th minute, Evoy made good on the threat, logging a hat trick on the night. Despite the mounting deficit, Deportivo continued to press and eventually found the back of the net after an intricate series of passes within the eighteen yard box, which led up to a neatly placed goal in the far corner. However, hopes of a comeback were dashed when the Seattle Americans converted a penalty kick awarded on a foul inside the box.
The Seattle Americans took home the trophy after an eventual 6-1 victory over the defending champions, Deportivo Italia.
