TORCH FC DRAW 2-2 AT HOME AGAINST WEST CHESTER UNITED

Buxmont Torch drew 2-2 on June 25th in a highly competitive and contested Keystone Conference match where playoff spots are currently up for grabs.  West Chester United got the better of the possession in the first 20 minutes with Torch FC looking dangerous on the counter with the speedy outside midfielders Thiago Dos Santos and Dominic Powers offering great width on the left side. After the first 20 minutes the game started to become more physical when out of a counter attack winger Thiago Dos Santos in the 22nd minute received a layoff from forward Phil Shafer and with not much pressure blasted a 30-yard shot off the near post and into the net, stunning the West Chester defense.

After this period Torch FC started to gain momentum and combine with some nice intricate passes in the midfield and forwards. However, in the 30th minute the Torch were forced to make a change after forward Phil Shafer pulled up with a groin strain after a long run down the line and had to leave the match making way for Brazilian forward and leading scorer Pedro Souza. After the substitution the game became more physical and animated with a dangerous challenge made on winger Thiago dos Santos near the end of the 1st half. However, the Torch added a second goal when forward Pedro Souza took a shot from the top of the 18-yard box which was saved but to a wide open Mitchell Robinson who tapped in the rebound for his first goal of the season. After this second goal the Torch went into halftime with a deserved lead.

The second half brought in two quick goals from West Chester United in the first five minutes. West Chester, who came out with a renewed spirit, scored in the 48th minute with a through ball to Jake Lister, who finished off a half volley shot with aplomb into the corner past the outreached hands of goalkeeper Matt Palmer. Then, after conceding just minutes later West Chester added a second with a very similar play with a through ball being played on the ground to Francisco Palma, who took a shot which deflected into the net in the 51st minute leaving the Torch stunned. After the quick barrage of attack from West Chester, the Torch settled down and regained much more possession.

As the second half progressed the game opened up dramatically with end-to-end action and a couple of yellow cards from both teams. Torch FC outside back Matthew Giudice picked up a booking for a foul outside the box in the 72nd minute and a few minutes later a West Chester player received a yellow for impeding a dangerous run made by outside back Will Woodfin, who could have been through for a dangerous counter attack in the 75th minute. After this series of action, the game settled down and the teams settled for a 2-2 draw not without a late chance by West Chester who in the 86th minute almost capitalized on a defensive error made by Torch FC.

Upcoming matches: Torch FC (4-2-2) remain in 3rd place and will travel to St. John Vianney High School in Trenton, NJ to take on 1st place New Jersey Copa FC (5-1-2) at 7 pm on July 1st. Meanwhile West Chester FC (5-1-2) with tonight’s result falls to second place and will take on Greater Binghamton FC (0-8-0) at Visions Field in Binghamton, NY.

Torch FC Lineup: Goalkeeper #0 Matt Palmer, Right Back #10 Matthew Giudice, Center Back #21 Jeremiah Mateola (46′ #27 Tyler Smith) Center Back #3 Joshua Coupar, Left Back #5 Will Woodfin, Center Midfield #12 Khalil Karl, Center Midfield #17 Phil Hagerty (73′ #13 Jake Rudloff), Right Mid #11 Thiago Dos Santos, Left Mid #2Dominic Powers (71′ #20 Kenny Varady, 88′ #4 Cody Gangaware), Attacking Midfield #8 Mitchell Robinson (65′ #15 Cody Boerema), Forward #7 Phil Shafer (31′ #25 Pedro Souza)