A commanding performance by Ballard FC secured a 4-0 win away against FC Olympia at South Sound Stadium in Lacey, Washington. Ballard FC will look to continue this momentum into Saturday as they take on West Seattle Junction at Memorial Stadium.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Ballard FC and FC Olympia kicked off their USL2 clash, with both teams eager to claim early points in the season. Ballard’s aggressive start paid off quickly when a corner by Juan Alvarez in the second minute turned into a scramble in the box. Leo Burney buried it into the back of the net with the help of an Olympia defender and gave Ballard an early 1-0 lead.
FC Olympia’s best chance of the half came in the 9th minute, when a defensive error nearly allowed them to equalize. But Leo Burney reacted quickly, heading the ball off the line and maintaining the one-goal lead.
The sustained pressure from Ballard FC resulted in numerous chances. In the 18th minute, a header by Mejia narrowly missed the post. Just moments later, Holmes’s incisive play led to Mejia slotting the ball into the far post, and extending Ballard’s lead to 2-0.
In the 24th minute, FC Olympia almost got one back. They whipped in a dangerous cross, forcing Adam Braman to make a sharp reflex save.
Ballard FC had the majority of the ball in the first half and created a number of additional clear cut chances. Late in the half, Charlie Gaffney ran onto the end of a long ball and shot near post forcing FC Olympia keeper, Jackson Ozburn, to make a quick reaction save with his feet.
The two team went into halftime with the 2-0 scoreline still intact.
The second half began with a noticeable shift in tempo, as Olympia sought to avoid conceding further and Ballard FC held on strong to the clean sheet. Ballard’s defensive organization stopped any Olympia attempts from breaking through.
Substitutions brought fresh legs and energy, maintaining our upper hand. One of which, Elliot Spatz, looked particularly eager for a goal as he created a few half chances for himself to start the half.
In the 61st minute, his persistence paid off. Charlie Gaffney played the ball down the line for Juan Alvarez, who cut it across the box where Elliot Spatz finished the move off and made it 3-0 for the Bridges.
Ballard FC remained relentless for more goals while remaining solid defensively. Elliot Spatz scored a goal that was taken back for a narrow offsides, Luke Hammond made a critical goal-line clearance, and Adam Braman made a number of more impressive saves. The most impressive save came in the 85th minute, denying a powerful volley from FC Olympia’s forward Leanord Fock.
The final blow came in the 90th minute, when a corner from Peter Kingston was met by Austin Brummett at the near post, sealing a decisive 4-0 victory for Ballard FC.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Leo Burney was your man of the match. Burney gave Ballard FC the lead early while also having an outstanding defensive performance to help keep a clean sheet fr the first time this season.
HOW WE LINED UP:
BALLARD FC XI: ADAM BRAMAN, CHARLIE HOLMES, SEAN SENT, LEO BURNEY, LUKE HAMMOND, CAMERON YRIONDO, RAY MENDEZ, JUAN ALVAREZ, CHARLIE GAFFNEY, ALEX MEIA, CAMERON CRUZ
SUBS: CHRISTIAN ENGMANN, ELLIOT SPATZ, DANIEL BURKO, AUSTIN BRUMMETT, RICHIE AMAN, PETER KINGSTON
WHAT’S NEXT?
Ballard FC looks forward to our next challenge as we face off against West Seattle Junction FC at home on Saturday, June 1st at 7:00pm. With this emphatic win, Ballard FC sit at the top of the standings and will aim to continue the strong form and secure another victory.
West Seattle Junction FC are a new side to the league this year and are off to a strong start, undefeated in their first 3 matches. This match up will be a good test for both sides and is shaping up to be another must watch match under the Memorial Stadium lights.
Get your tickets now and support Ballard FC in this exciting season!
