Naya and Latinos All Tied Up

By Tara Bush
Caymanian Compass

Latinos 2
Naya 2

Chris Welcome scored in the 56th minute on Wednesday night to lift Naya into a 2-2 tie with Latinos in the Foster Brother's National Football League. After being postponed on Sunday due to Hurricane Iris, the Latinos Naya make up game took place at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.

The game was an exhibition of determination and ability with plenty of fast paced action. In fact, this might have been a draw-back with the water-softened pitch at the National Stadium. Players from both squads seemed to have a hard time staying vertical. Nevertheless, it was an animated and exciting game.

Latinos' keeper, Noel Morales, had poor hands for the game, which led to Anthony Fogarty scoring in the first 10 minutes from a set piece on the edge of the 18-yard box. Fogarty hit a right-footed drive through Latinos wall. Morales seemed to squash the chance, but he did not cover the hard paced grounder and it rolled across the goal line.

Naya could have easily doubled its lead minutes later when Limbert Ebanks floated the ball across the face of the goal, but Floyd McKenzie was unable to connect. Latinos gained composure, countering and stretching Naya's defenders past the limit.
In the 20th minute Latinos fans yelled 'goal' when Jomel Suazo jetted from his back-third into Naya's in the blink of an eye. It appeared as if Joey Hew was going to pluck the ball loose from Suazo, but the nimble little striker danced his way around. Naya's defender swarmed in. Suazo touched the ball over to Alexis Espinal, who dribbled into the six-yard box. He took aim, chipping the ball to Naya's keeper Everton Surgeon.

Latinos got another chance to equalise but again Surgeon frustrated the attempt. Latinos players fell to their knees seeming to pray; some could be heard uttering 'Oh God.' Divine intervention must have paid off as Latinos equalised in the 38th minute when Suazo FedExed a long-range blast that appeared to have whirly spin, which drew Surgeon off his line.

With the score at 1-1 an already good match became a powder kag of excitement. Both teams were not in any position to hold anything back. And just before the close of the first half 'Mr. Yellow boots', Carlos Andrade netted a goal for Latinos taking the score to 2-1. The goal was a real beauty. Andrade, screamed into Naya's third leaving a wake of defenders in his path. Andrade rifled the ball goalward. Surgeon, punched the ball into play. Antonio Martinez struck the ball. Again Surgeon made the save. Andrade collected the rebounded ball and fired the ball into the right side of the net.

The second half opened with Naya having more possession, a fact that bore fruit when they scored in the 56th minute to equalise the score 2-2. From a corner taken by Fogarty, Welcome nodded the ball into the back of the net.

That goal seemed to lift Naya as they led several forays into their opponent's third that dangerously exposed their opponent's back-line. Poor finishing kept the score level. Latinos, too, received a couple of good chances to break the deadlock. It was inconceivable why they couldn't score.

In the dying minutes, Latinos were awarded a free kick just outside the six-yard box. A defender touched the ball and the keeper picked it up. Coming so close, Latinos could not break into Naya's net for the rest of the game.