by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Too many missed scoring opportunities proved fatal for Kansas City Kansas Community College in a 2-1 loss to Cloud County in the opening round of the NJCAA DI Region VI soccer playoffs Sunday.
The loss at Harold M. Clark Stadium in Concordia ended the Blue Devils season at 7-6-2 while the Thunderbirds (13-4-1) moved into the regional semifinals against Cowley County Friday in Arkansas City.
The Blue Devils outshot the T-Birds 23-17 including eight on goal but managed only one goal, a penalty kick by sophomore Marcos Cabral at the 29:10 mark of the first half.
The kick tied the game at 1-1 only to have Cloud go back ahead on a header by Heitor Moreira on a cross from Shaqon Bryan with 46:20 left in the second half.
“The Blue Devils responded by taking control of possession and playing a majority of the second half in the Cloud County half of the field with a barrage of five shots coming in the span of two minutes that would require three saves from CCCC goalkeeper Norbert Vieira,” it was reported on the KJCCC website. “KCKCC would continue to find opportunities on the offensive end heading into the final 15 minutes but would be unable to connect on an equalizer as the T-Birds would hang one for the victory.”
“The missed opportunities were pretty much the story of the whole game,” KCKCC coach Ruben Rodriguez said. “It’s unfortunate that we just couldn’t get another goal. All are guys gave a great effort; everything we could ask for.”
Cloud took a 1-0 lead just 4:35 into the game when Djougher Oliveira sent a long pass across the field to the far side of the 18-yard box where Fellipe D’Agostini beat Blue Devil goalkeeper Bosco Pery in a one-on-one duel for the goal.
Pery had five saves in goal for the Blue Devils, who had six corner kicks to only one for Cloud County. Five of Cloud County’s eight saves on goal came in the second half.
The KCKCC loss came in the third straight playoff meeting between the two teams, the Blue Devils took a 1-0 overtime win in 2017 on the way to the national tournaments; the T-Birds won 1-0 in last year’s opening round of the playoffs.
The Cloud win was the sixth in a row for the T-Birds and gave them a 3-2 edge in playoff wins over KCKCC. The T-Birds also have a 15-5 advantage over KCKCC in all games between the two rivals.