The 2005 Boys Orange team showed very well in the USYS Midwest Regional Championship in St Louis just narrowly missing the knockout stages.
Excerpts from the game reports from The Republic
Game 1: Columbus Express 5, Sporting Omaha 1
CREVE COEUR, Mo. — Columbus Express 2005 Boys Orange scored five goals in the second half, including three by Eli Miller, Friday to claim a 5-1 win against Sporting Nebraska to open pool play at the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional.
Following a scoreless first half, the Express got on the board with a Misaki Takemoto goal off an assist from Obed Oliva, then a goal from Nico Gotoh after another assist from Oliva. After Sporting Nebraska cut the lead to 2-1, Miller netted three goals off assists from Oliva, Ian Jackson and Christian Cardoso.
Oscar Ballinas played the first half in goal, and Adam Ott played the second half in goal for the Express.
The Express play KC Fusion today and finish pool play against Elmbrook United from Wisconsin on Sunday, with both games starting at 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST). The semifinals are Tuesday, and the final is Wednesday
Game 2: Columbus Express 1, KC Fusion 2
CREVE COEUR, Mo. — Columbus Express 2005 Boys Orange fell to KC Fusion 2-1 on Saturday, the second day of the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional.
After falling behind 1-0, the Express tied the game when Obed Oliva tapped in a pass from Eli Miller. But KC Fusion scored on a penalty kick with about five minutes remaining and held on for the win.
The Express, who opened with a 5-1 win against Sporting Nebraska on Friday, wraps up pool play against Elmbrook United from Wisconsin at 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST) today. Sitting in second place in their group, a point behind KC Fusion, the Express need a win and a KC Fusion loss or tie against Sporting Nebraska to win the group and put them in Tuesday’s semifinals
Game 3: Columbus Express 2, Elmbrook United 1
CREVE COEUR, Mo. — Columbus Express 2005 Boys Orange finished pool play with a 2-1 win against Elmbrook United from Wisconsin on Sunday, but fell just short of winning its group and qualifying for the semifinals of the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional.
The Express, which had beaten Sporting Nebraska 5-1 on Friday and lost to KC Fusion 2-1 on Saturday, needed a win and KC Fusion loss or tie on Sunday to win the group. But KC Fusion edged Sporting Nebraska 2-1.
The Express trailed Elmbrook United 1-0 at halftime. Misaki Takemoto tied it with a penalty kick, and Aidan Whitley scored the winning goal
