They had just practiced it on Monday, and it is already paying
dividends.
They had just practiced it on Monday, and it is already paying dividends.
At a crucial moment in Tuesday’s boys soccer match at Palma, San Benito’s Eric DeLeon set up for a free kick from 40 yards out.
The host Chieftains, who had just tied the game 2-2, in turn set up a back line of defense and looked to draw the Haybalers offside.
But DeLeon’s kick, which lofted up into the air and over Palma’s back line, bounced once in front of keeper Stephen Dotseth. With an outreached arm, the Chieftain goalie was poised to pluck it out of the air.
Enter Jose Granados.
The Haybaler, who discussed the play with coach Ben Alvarez on the sidelines before the set developed, started from the left sideline and finished an all-out sprint with a header into the right corner, just as Dotseth was about to make the save.
“It worked perfect,” Alvarez said.
The set, as Alvarez described after the game, was to send more attackers at the net than Palma could handle, causing chaos and confusion in what was basically an all-out blitz.
It resulted in a textbook game-winning goal at the 60th minute, and San Benito went on to take their Tri-County Athletic League opener 3-2 over Palma (2-3-0).
“We practiced it before … It’s never worked,” Granados said of the play after the game.
Granados said he was moved up to a forward from the midfield position just two minutes before the play transpired, while the goal prevented a come-from-behind victory for Palma.
“Those kids played good ball and they were fast,” Alvarez said of the Chieftains. “We had to [start] on a good note. We had to get this game and we got it.”
Palma has been undergoing feast-or-famine-like games this season, with two shutout wins against Pacific Grove and King City, and two 4-1 losses at Gonzales and at Soledad.
Tuesday’s win for San Benito marked the first time Palma has lost at home this season, and it began with a feast for San Benito.
Efrain Espinoza used his right foot to kick a bouncing ball out of mid-air and deposited it into the left corner in the 11th minute.
Less than 10 minutes later, Josh Flores stole the ball deep in Palma territory and drew Dotseth out of the net on a breakaway. Flanked by Alex Castillo on the right side, Flores passed off to give Castillo an open shot on net, and Castillo pushed into the left corner at the 19th minute.
“They were all right,” said Granados of Palma’s defense, “but I think they were a little nervous at first when we scored two goals in the first 20 minutes.”
Palma’s nerves apparently dissipated, though, as the Chieftains took their first shot on net in the 20th minute and continued an onslaught that resulted in an unassisted goal by Matt Ostarello in the 39th minute.
The Chieftains would tie the game in the second half when Conor Boulger split the San Benito defense for a score at the 53rd minute. Just seven minutes later, however, Granados would head in the go-ahead goal.
San Benito (3-1-2) will host Gilroy (4-2-1) Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The Mustangs are coming off a 0-0 tie against Everett Alvarez on Tuesday.
“I think we can give them a run for their money,” Alvarez said. “We were ready for Palma. We’ll be ready for Gilroy.”
