Alexandria Reds Defeat Annapolis Blues FC 2-1 in Final Regular Season Match

By Tyler Lewin

The Alexandria Reds defeated Annapolis Blues FC 2-1 after a weather delay held up the start of the match for an hour.

The opening goal of the game was scored by the Reds in the seventh minute.  After regaining possession of the ball at midfield, the Reds swiftly located Chris Barnard’s feet.  After Barnard dribbled past three Blues players, he passed the ball across the six-yard box.  Finding the feet of Seni Joseph, the shot bounced off Joseph’s own leg, hit a Blues defender, and found the back of the net.  This would give the Reds a 1-0 lead.  

Eric Gwadz stole the ball from a Reds defender in the 25th minute, leading the Blues to its best opportunity of the first half.  Gwadz cut into the box from the left side of the field and finessed a shot to the top right corner, just missing high and wide of the net.  Three minutes later, Gwadz found another chance.  He maneuvered past his defender as the ball was bouncing around in the box, jumped into the air, and connected with the ball via a scissor kick.  Sadly, his attempt was blocked by the crossbar.  

Nathan Macek, who came on in the second half, scored a goal for the Blues in the 74th minute.  A long switch across the field ended with the ball landing at Andrew Schug’s feet on the pitch’s left side.  Following that, Schug made an attempt to chip Reds goalkeeper Khamari Hadaway.  Hadaway blocked the shot, but the ball eventually found Schug’s feet again, who then passed it to Macek from two yards out for a straightforward tap-in.  

Chris Odoi-Atsem scored the game-winning goal for the Reds in the 91st minute.  After a ball was snuck in through the middle of the field, the former D.C. United player found himself through on goal.  Odoi-Atsem was competing in a foot sprint with Blues defender Brian Lenzer from 35 yards out.  When Owen Allegro was charging out of his goal, Odoi-Atsem rolled his shot through goalkeeper’s legs.

The playoffs are up next for Annapolis as they host Grove United in the Mid-Atlantic Conference Semifinals.  The game will be played at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis on Wednesday, July 12 at 7:00 pm.  

Photo Credit: Fincham Photography