By Brad Peters Niagara Falls Review Updated 10 hours ago
Not only has the Niagara United Soccer Club made the playoffs in their first season in the Canadian Soccer League's Second Division, but they are winning in the post-season, as well.
In its first quarterfinal playoff game Saturday, the team beat Kitchener-Waterloo United FC 3-0 in a game that Niagara United head coach described as "a great game in which Kitchener played really well."
"Both sides had great possession of the ball, but our defending was phenomenal in the game," said McGillivray. "Our goalie only had to make one save.
"As a back four, our defenders were marking well, they were defending as a team and they frustrating Kitchener the more the game went on."
With both teams earning solid time of possession with the ball, coupled with Niagara United's tight defending, the first half ended in a scoreless tie. Throughout the second half, Niagara United started flexing their offensive muscles a little more and soon broke the scoreless tie.
"At the 52nd minute, Mohammed Mohammed scored. About 20 minutes later, around the 72-minute mark, Derek Paterson made it 2-0."
Paterson leads all second division scorers with 14 goals, but his goal wasn't the last for Niagara United, nor was it the most unique. The local team benefited from Kitchener's late-season miscommunication.
"Our third goal from Kosta Krajisnik happened so fast," said McGillivray. "I looked down to my chart to make a substitution and I look up and Kosta is running down the field on a breakaway and beat the goalie."
The coach quickly asked along the sidelines how Krajisnik ended up all alone and was told that the Kitchener players flubbed a free kick and just left the ball rolling on the field between two players. Krajisnik jumped into the play and broke down the field, leaving the Kitchener players looking at the referee, hoping for an explanation.
"After that it got pretty chippy, the coach got sent off," said McGillivray.
With the win, the United advance to the semifinals this weekend against a yet-to-be determined team this weekend.
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