Royals' right last season's wrong--take down Real Overland Park

Woodland FC starting XI

Around this same time last year Woodland FC rolled into week 3 with a record of 2-0-0, a +8 goal differential, and hosting Real Overland Park in week 3. The Royals lost 7-4. It was their only loss in the Select League all last season. This year, the Royals are 2-0-0, have a +8 goal differential, and host Real Overland Park in week 3. History would not repeat itself this time.

From the opening whistle, Woodland controlled possession, and forced Real Overland Park to play a little pragmatically, soak up pressure, and play for a counterattack. The match felt a little disjointed at times, as several fouls were committed throughout the match by either team. It was apparent from the earliest stages of the match that the teams were employing two diametrically opposed tactics. Woodland content to keep possession, for the most part, while Real Overland Park had all but abandoned any semblance of desire to keep the ball, and settled for route 1 football to beat the Woodland defence with their speed.

Woodland tried to break the deadlock, and appeared destined to head into the break with the schore knotted at 0-0, but a handball just outside the Real Overland Park penalty box awarded Woodland with a free kick in a dangerous place.

Federico Verlicchi stepped up to the ball, and struck a well placed shot into the far bottom corner that Pedro De Castro was unable to get a hand to. Woodland scoring a goal with the last kick of the 1st half, changing the dynamic of the match completely.

1-0

Coming out of haltime, you expect teams to have their wits about them and be focused, having just received the motivational team talk from the coaches at the break, but Woodland came out capitalizing on a quick mistake just seconds into the latter half. Johnathan Young pounced on the ball, dribbled into the box, squared it to Givler who was wide open for the easiest of tap ins.

2-0

Two goals in the space 70 seconds of game time between the end of the first half, and the start of the second is a potentially back-breaking development. Overland Park would struggle to make things happen throughout the match. They would struggle even more as a quick break again by the Royals resulted in Chandler Givler dinking a delicately flighted ball over the Overland Park backline, settled nicely by Jackson, and tucked home for the 3-0 lead. An important goal as Jackson tied the club's all-time goal lead record held by Joseph Caughron.

3-0

The tie would be salted away when Isaac Yang was played through by Anthony Pleitez, who outran his defender, cut him off inside the penalty box, and picked his spot for the nail in the coffin 4th goal.

4-0

The Royals ended this match with the same amount of goals as their last in this same fixture last season. The difference? A shut out compared to allowing 7 goals. Woodland continues holding their focus early on in the season, making sure to keep pressure on their peers.

The Royals move to 3-0-0, 9 pts, and have two tough matches in the following 10 days as they take on 2nd-place Olathe United on Saturday the 26th, and 3rd-place Southside FC on April 29th. Be sure to cheer on the Royals as they continue marching through this season.

Check out the match replay on our club youtube channel!

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