Photo Credit: Jose Rocha, Rocha Multimedia

Written By Scott Matulis

Bay Cities FC lost 1-0 to Wenatchee All-Stars FC in the NISA Independent Cup Pacific Region Final Saturday at Sequoia High School.  A header in the second minute of first-half stoppage time proved to be the decider. 

After a month-long break from competition, Bay Cities took the field Saturday night as the favorites vs. Cascadia Premier League side Wenatchee All Stars FC, a semi-professional  team fromCentral Washington. The All-Stars came into the game with a record of 20-2-1 over the past two seasons, both of which resulted in league championships.  

The game began with the teams feeling each other out, figuring out how to move the ball and struggling to advance into their respective opponents' half. By the tenth minute, however, Bay Cities settled down and began to impose its will on the game. Bay Cities' first real chance came in the 29th minute when Edson Cardona took off on a breakaway, receiving a pass from Andres Jimenez at half field and sprinting towards the Wenatchee goal. Cardona muscled off a Wenatchee defender and drove into the right side of the box, but his shot from five yards out was stopped by Wenatchee goalkeeper Alexis Calderilla. Seven minutes later, Bay Cities got another chance with a nice piece of dribbling down the right side by Tony Jimenez, but again Calderilla made the save.

Wenatchee’s first and only chance of the first half came two minutes into extra time and resulted in the game’s only goal.  Striker Cabal Sabar was fouled hard by Bay Cities defender Jacob Penner, resulting in a yellow card for Penner and a free kick for Wenatchee.  #15 took the kick from 30 yards out and curled a perfect cross onto the head of Sabar, who redirected it past Bay Cities' keeper Alan Cruz-Gomez to put the All-Stars up 1-0. 

Time ran out in the first half and Bay Cities went into the locker room in a 1-0 hole. Perez’ side came out in the second half with an obvious sense of urgency, and an equalizer seemed just a matter of time. Victor Romero quickly hit the side netting with a shot and Cardona struck the crossbar off of a free kick, but no luck. Bay Cities seemingly got the tying goal in the 55th minute when Calderilla, under pressure in his box from Romero, squibbed a kick directly to Adolfo Trujillo who controlled the ball and shot it into the empty net. However, the goal was disallowed when the center referee flagged Romero for a foul for running into Calderilla after he’d released the ball. Romero protested and was quickly given a yellow card for dissent. 

Anders on the foul

Danny Turgeon received Bay Cities fourth yellow card in the 62nd minute, but Bay Cities continued to chase the equalizing goal. Perez subbed in fresh legs, replacing Trujillo with attacker Kevin Salto. Unfortunately, in the 74th minute, Gomez charged off his line to defend Wenatchee substitute Luis Navarette and clipped Navarette’s feet just outside the box and was shown a straight red card. Cruz-Gomez sat down and Perez brought in backup goalie Alonso Lara for Cardona.

Perez also subbed in Marco Silveira for Tony Jimenez and Bay Cities renewed its quest for the equalizer while playing a man down. The Redwood City club was able to generate several chances, but the All-Stars’ defense held and time ran out giving Wenatchee All-Stars FC the win and the Pacific Region trophy.

Up Next in NISA:

Bay Cities FC returns to NISA league play Wednesday, August 10 vs. Syracuse Pulse at Sequoia Stadium. For tickets click here.