Bay Cities FC tie first match

Miguel Najar’s goal in the waning seconds of stoppage time earned Bay Cities FC a 1-1 draw with Cal Victory FC in the first Pacific Division match of the NISA Independent Cup. 

The goal was set up by a desperation long ball sent from near midfield into a crowd of players in the box. It bounced off of the head of a Victory defender and Goalkeeper Roberto Llamas came out to clear it, but Najar extended his right leg to nudge the ball out of Llamas’ reach and put it into the net, as two desperate Victory defenders tried desperately to block it. 

Cal Victory led for most of the match on the strength of a 28th minute strike by Giovanni Aguilar from 35 yards out. 

One of the pivotal moments came 35 seconds into the match, when a Cal Victory striker found space and sent a shot that was headed for the back of the net, but Bay Cities goalkeeper Alan Cruz was able to get a fingertip on it and it bounced harmlessly off the post. 

The clubs were mostly evenly matched. Cal Victory dominated the possession with their methodical buildup of overlapping passes, while Bay Cities mostly relied on the counterattack. But there were only a few clear chances: 

•    Aguilar nearly scored again in the 32nd minute when his rocket from 25 yards out glanced off the top of the crossbar.
•    A shot by Cal Victory’s Gabriel Moreno caromed off the side of the post in the 57th minute and Kevin Lopez’s rebound attempt trickled wide.
•    Bay Cities had an excellent opportunity in the 81st minute when Miguel Guerrero found Josiah Romero alone on the wing, but goalkeeper Roberto Llamas was able to deflect his shot wide.
•    Cal Victory nearly put the match away in the 90th minute when Salvador Villegas’s pass found Omar Ramirez in a one-on-one with Cruz; Ramirez dribbled around Cruz but three defenders converged to snuff his subsequent shot attempt. 

Bay Cities’ roster is predominately made up of younger players, combined with Bay Area soccer veterans such as Rei Dorwart (SF Glens) and Zanin Mahic (Oakland Stompers). Cal Victory is based in Petaluma and their name is a tribute to the California Victory, the USL First Division club that played at Kezar Stadium in 2007. They recently completed a successful season in the UPSL Wild West North Division, losing to Davis Legacy in the division finals. 

Last night’s other Pacific Division match ended in a similar fashion, as Seattle-based Space United scored in the waning seconds of stoppage time to earn a 2-2 draw with PDX Portland.