Game of Missed Chances Goes Against Argos in Overtime Loss
LA MIRADA, Calif. – In a game filled with missed opportunities and almost moments, the one instant of fulfillment went against Argo soccer, with UGF losing 1-0 OT to #11 Biola University. The goal came in the 99th minute, one minute away from the end of the first overtime from a shot from inside the left side of the penalty box.
Before the golden goal was scored the match saw a number of near heart attack inducing chances from both squads. Biola controlled the play for the first 20 minutes but allowed a promising look at the net for UGF senior Christoffer Bisbo in the 7th minute.
The Argo forward received the ball after senior midfielder Camilo Martinez deftly worked his way into the penalty box while surround by four Eagle defenders. As the defenders closed in on Martinez to the right side of the box, the ball made its way over to Bisbo waiting at left center and he got off a clean shot from about 15 yards out. That shot didn’t get on frame, however, and proved to be one of the Argo’s two best scoring chances all game.
While UGF wouldn’t get another look of that quality for another 83 minutes, the Argos did take control of the game in the final 20 minutes of the first half. The first period ended with 8 shots for the Eagles to 6 for UGF, but the Biola managed to put two on net and hit the post once. It wouldn’t be the last time ball met pipework in the match.
From the kickoff of the second half the game became Biola’s to lose. The Eagles increased their up-field pressure, creating more scoring chances and taking UGF’s offensive buildup out of rhythm. The first of a series of serious threats from BU came in the 64th minute with another shot ringing off the UGF post. That same post got another smack ten minutes later and soon after a Biola goal was called back by an offsides decision.
Finally, in the final five minutes of regulation, UGF regained its poise and mounted a final effort to win the game in regular time. With around 50 second to go, the Argos earned a throw in about 20 yards from the BU end line. Both teams scrambled to either clear or score the ball, eventually resulting in another UGF throw with seven seconds remaining from about ten yards further back.
Both teams seemed to relax assuming there wouldn’t be enough time for a last gasp, but the throw reached forward Mohamad Oulare in the center of the box and with a quick touch he sent the ball rolled towards the far post. The UGF bench swelled with anticipation unclear from their angle if the ball was on track or not. It was not, missing to the outside by a few feet.
UGF maintain that momentum from the final minutes of the second half into the first overtime period when a long cross from Biola found its way onto the foot of an Eagle forward at the opposite corner of the box and his finish missed UGF’s keeper and post, finding only the net in the back of the goal to win the game 1-0.
Despite the handful of quality scoring chances, the Argos never managed to get a shot on goal and were outshot 18-9 by the Eagles. UGF goalkeeper Marc Girones finished with 4 saves including a fully outstretched, one-armed dive to just slap a header out of the path of the net.
UGF will follow up the game against the Eagles with another contest versus a ranked opponent with a match against #21 Marymount California University on Saturday, September 3 at 8 p.m. MT.