Trujillo stops flurry of late shots in 1-0 win
Salinas – San Benito’s Eddie Trujillo was miserable in the first half of the Haybalers’ Tri-County Athletic League game Wednesday against Palma at Salinas Sports Complex.
The team’s leading scorer turned goalkeeper was frustrated by the lack of activity in front of the net and was begging to return to his forward position.
Luckily for San Benito, coach Juan Carlos Martinez kept Trujillo in the net and when the action picked up late in the second half, the senior was at his best and preserved a 1-0 win over the Chieftains.
“It’s hard because I only saw a few shots of goal (in the first half). I kind of get tired of it,” Trujillo said. “I started dancing around in the second half. Finally the fun happened at the end.”
The final 12 minutes proved to be the most eventful and nerve-wracking of the game.
With the ‘Balers (3-8-2, 2-4-1 TCAL) nursing a 1-0 lead that they took in the sixth minute of the second half, Palma (10-4, 4-3) went into desperation mode trying to score the equalizer.
In the 68th minute, the Chieftains’ Silvano Botta dribbled in and had a great look at the net, but Trujillo stoned him.
With Trujillo out of position, the rebound came right to Palma’s Ross Majewski but San Benito defender Diego Martinez shot in and put a header on Majewski’s shot to keep the ‘Balers on top.
“When I saw (Trujillo) down, I thought it was going in,” Juan Carlos Martinez said. “I didn’t see (Diego Martinez). He came out of nowhere.”
San Benito nearly took advantage of Palma’s aggressiveness by going on a counterattack in the 71st minute. Senior Allen Nieves got free on a breakaway and fired a strong shot, but Chieftains’ goalie Stephen Dotseth made the save.
Two minutes later, Palma had another big opportunity to tie when Luke Paulo rifled a shot on which Trujillo made a diving save. The rebound went to Majewski but he couldn’t direct it into the net.
Paulo had another strong look a minute later but it was stopped by Trujillo, who had eight of his nine saves in the final 12 minutes.
With two minutes left, Dylan Lee delivered a good-looking corner kick that Botta tried to head in, but the ball sailed high and the ‘Balers held on.
“They were tough at the end, they kept pressuring,” said Gilberto Delgado, who took advantage of his fresh legs to score San Benito’s lone goal.
After sitting out the first half, Delgado came off the bench to start the second half and quickly made a difference.
Gilberto Lizarrago controlled the ball and drove in and passed to Delgado on the left side. Delgado had nobody between himself and the keeper and powered a low shot that hit off the post, then off the keeper and into the net.
“I just tried to get it in there, the goalie helped a little bit,” Delgado said. “I’ve got to thank him for that.”
The ‘Balers, who have battled consistency all season long, will hope to keep it going for their showdown with rival Gilroy at home 6pm Friday.
“I just hope we play good against Gilroy,” Trujillo said. “We haven’t been consistent so I don’t know what to expect next.”
