On a hot day in Shawnee Kansas, Woodland FC played host to Leawood Forest. Woodland (11-0-1 33pts) came into the match needing just two wins out of their last 4 matches to clinch the inaugural league title.
Standing in their way was Leawood Forest (3-2-6 11pts), a formidable side that has been severely hampered by injuries all season.
"We knew coming into the match that Leawood was a team that could severely hurt us if we didn't play well and do our jobs," coach Harris said before the match. "We had to be clinical to move one step closer to our goal this season."
Clinical is exactly what the Royals were.
{ 13' }
The Royals were able to open the scoring from some excellent passing after a Leawood turnover. Michael Okiring was able to steal possession from Forest left-back Andy Kim. Okiring played it to Andersson Obando's feet. Obando played it on his first touch to Brett Jackson. Jackson controlled, and laid it off for Okiring, who had continued his run, and Okiring curled home a low shot into the bottom right corner.
WFC 1-0 LEA.
{ 17' }
Leawood Forest was quick to respond though. Andy Kim played a long pass up the field to Leawood midfielder, Simeon Jean, who was able to dribble into the Woodland penalty box. Woodland defender, Derrick Carson, chased him down and tried to make a play on the ball, but was judged to have fouled Jean in the box, penalty to Leawood Forest. Roger Servy would step up and calmly put the spot kick away for a goal.
WFC 1-1 LEA
{ 23' }
Woodland would make a change. Greg Fiorentino came on to change the pace of the game, and help control the movement in midfield. The changes would be rewarded when the Royals used excellent movement through midfield to set up a go-ahead goal. Spencer Bone played the ball out to Jordan Flores on the left wing. Flores played it quickly up the sideline to Okiring, who cut inside his man, and touched it to Brett Jackson who was dropping deep. Jackson, passed it quickly to Brennan Williams, and continued his run looking for the give-and-go. Williams saw it, and played it perfectly into the space of Jackson, who finished skillfully with a deft chip over the on-rushing Leawood keeper, Jason Coronado.
WFC 2-1 LEA
{ 30' }
Woodland made two changes again in the first half. Their two youngest players, Joseph and Haddon DeMoure would come in to bring some renewed energy to the match.
They would contribute immediately. Leawood had possession deep in the Woodland half, and tried to keep possession. But an errant pass was snagged by Okiring, who held off his man, and played it to Spencer Bone. Bone, with one touch, played a long through-ball to Joseph Caughron who was able to chase down the ball. He had a good amount of work to do still with the Forest goalkeeper and Mark Conroy still to beat. Caughron surged ahead, cut the ball back onto his left foot, held off Conroy, and slotted home with his left foot to extend their lead.
WFC 3-1 LEA
{ 43' }
Woodland continued to press the attack, wanting to utilize the advantages they had in midfield. They passed the ball in and around the penalty box, before Williams was able to put his foot on the ball, and lay it off to Spencer Bone at the top of the box. Spencer Bone put his laces through the ball and the shot rolled along the ground. Leawood goalkeeper, Jason Coronado, had a good read on it, until Caughron ghosted through the box and deflected it well to the opposite side of the goal, giving the Royals a 4-1 lead.
WFC 4-1 LEA
{ 45' }
At this point, Leawood was clamoring for the halftime whistle, needing to regroup, and reorganize while the match was still with a shred of hope. The Royals would not let that happen. Michael Okiring crossed the ball into the box, a high looping effort, that Caughron was able to outmuscle Andy Kim for. The ball bounced in the box, and Caughron was first to react. He faked a shot, dribbled past Simeon Jean, and smashed it home to complete his hat trick.
WFC 5-1 LEA
{ 52' }
The 2nd half began much as the first half did. Woodland won a corner kick, played into the box by Andersson Obando. The ball was headed toward goal by Josh Sherfy, saved well by Coronado. Gage Pemberton arrived to try and smash home the rebound, and was taken down by Simeon Jean from behind. Penalty to Woodland. Brennan Williams set the ball on the spot, and finished with aplomb.
WFC 6-1 LEA
{ 55' }
Much like the first half, Leawood would be quick to respond. Forest midfielder, Mamadou Coulibaly, showed excellent skill dribbling through midfield. He played the ball up to Chris Guldenpfennig, who controlled well, and sent it back to Coulibaly. Coulibaly found Ben Parkes in space. Parkes controlled well past his marker, and slotted home a well worked goal into the far bottom corner.
{ 65' }
WFC 6-2 LEA
Woodland responded with a well worked free kick won by Greg Fiorentino. Chandler Givler, Brennan Williams, and Andersson Obando all stood over the free kick, creating confusion around who was taking the kick. Obando touched it quickly to Fiorentino who was completely unmarked. He fired a piledriver of an effort toward goal. Coronado was able to save, but only just, and Pemberton was there to attack the rebound once again. He smashed it home for his first goal of the season.
WFC 7-2 LEA
{ 67' }
Shortly after the restart, Woodland was able to deflect a pass near the Forest defensive line. The ball defelected into the path of Brennan Williams, who raced past the defense and slotted home with authority.
WFC 8-2 LEA
{ 75' }
Chandler Givler got his name back on the Woodland stat sheet after missing several games due to a herniated disk injury. Givler collected the ball from Bone on the wing, took a touch, looked up, and sent a curling cross into the box. Williams was there to rise up, and head it back across goal.
WFC 9-2 LEA
{ 78' }
Woodland would continue to turn the screw. Jackson had the ball played out to him on the left wing. He found Obando at the top of the box, who laced a hard drive towards goal. Coronado did well to save. Jackson pounced on the rebound, skipped past his defender, and laid it off to a wide-open Givler who buried it into the exposed net.
WFC 10-2 LEA
{ 81' }
The finaly tally of the match came off incredibly unselfish play by Andersson Obando. Joseph Caughron was able to knock down a high pass that was played to him. He played it out wide to Obando at the top of the box. He unselfishly chipped it back over to Caughron, who touched it around the keeper, and put it away to complete the rout.
WFC 11-2 LEA
With the win, Woodland FC moves to 12-0-1 (36pts), and will clinch the title with a win against cross-town rivals Lenexa City on Friday, July 19th. The match will be at Charles J. Stump Memorial Park, 6pm, where the Royals hope to celebrate in front of their home fans.
You can watch the match replay here on our club Youtube channel!
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