Saint Louis Club Atletico Stunned at Home by Demize
Saint Louis Club Atletico suffered its first shutout of the season in a 3-0 loss against Demize NPSL. With the loss Atletico now has .500 record with four wins, four losses and one tie. With the loss, Club Atletico will now be the fourth seed for the playoffs with the likely opponent being Wichita depending on next week’s result with Demize. Saint Louis Club Atletico has now split with every team in the conference.
The night started out extremely slow for both Atletico and Demize as they both had to deal with heat indexes over 110 degrees. Both teams tried to play half field defense and allow the other to keep possession in their own half for the first 20-25 minutes of the first half. The first real scoring chance came in the 27th minute when Demize’s Charles Guelly took advantage of a turnover by Club Atletico. Guelly’s right-footed blast beat Atletico keeper Ziggy Camejo in the upper corner of the goal. The lackluster first half saw each team with one corner and no other real scoring chances.
In the first minute of the second half, Demize was awarded a penalty kick after an Atletico foul inside the box. Demize’s Kyler Moore took the penalty shot and buried the ball into the side net. Atletico, now down 2-0 to start the second half, was not given the start they were looking for. Being up 2-0, Demize was extremely content to defend their half.
In the 56th minute tempers started to rise as Demize defender Jaxn Rogers collided with Atletico forward Chevaughn Walsh. Rogers got the worst of the collision, but Walsh ended up with the yellow card. Demize’s Petar Araya was sent off shortly after.
Now Atletico up a man and down by two goals, it was the break Saint Louis was looking for. Atletico started creating chances, including their best chance when Brayan Lopez sent a driven ball into the box where Hamza Elias headed the ball but it was saved by keeper Carson Cakes. A few minutes later, Lopez penetrated Demize’s stingy backline, but his shot was also saved by Cakes. Atletico had total control at this point and it seemed like a matter of time before they would score. Saint Louis had never been shutout this season; they tried through balls that led to seven offside calls and tried early crosses but all to no avail.
Demize’s third goal came in the 83rd minute when Michel Allou stole a pass and went in on Camejo all alone. The third goal sealed the game for Demize and gave them their third victory of the season.
Saint Louis Club Atletico’s Man of the Match was Brayan Lopez, who created the best scoring opportunities for Atletico. Lopez, a Marshall University graduate, leads Saint Louis in assists with four. He also has one goal on the season.
Saint Louis will play their last game of the regular season on the road at Ozark next Saturday. The playoffs will start on July 11th where Saint Louis will travel to Wichita or Little Rock pending the outcome of next weekend’s matches.
Contributor: Saint Louis Club Atletico
Photo Credit: Steve Conway/Saint Louis Club Atletico
