November 2005

PAGE 21

Crossfire Defeated in Quarterfinals

Nike Manchester United Premier Cup

World Championships

American neighbors. Pride was on the line and it

The Nike Manchester United Premier Cup is an

n a hard fought game played in the pouring rain the

I

international soccer tournament, started in 1993 as the

LWYSA Crossfire Premier team was defeated 1-0 by

showed clearly through the aggressive play and hard

tackling that took place throughout the game. It proved

Nike Premier Cup. It is only for U15 Boys and Girls

Estudiantes La Playa (Argentina) at the Nike Manchester

(players born in 1990). It

United Premier Cup World Championships this past

to be a defense battle extra-

started out twelve years

ordinaire with the score tied

July. The goal was scored on a free kick from just out-

0-0 as the final whistle blew.

ago as a European regional

side the box approximately eight minutes into the first

tournament and has now

half.

Both teams proved to

be very organized in the

grown to one of the most

"The ball was struck about as well as you can hit it,

back. Mexico had the best

prestigious tournaments of

"said Crossfire Head Coach Bernie James. That was a

its kind. Over 642,000

chance when a ball car-

professional level kick. At the end of the day you just

omed off the top post in the

players have taken part in

can't give up free kicks against a team like this. Still, I

the tournament since its

am proud of the boys and the effort they put out. Under

middle of the second half

but, despite great efforts on

inception.

the conditions, they played about as well as can be

both sides, neither team was

Fifteen countries (En-

expected. I would have loved to get the Argentines on

gland, France, Spain, Ger-

able to mount much of an

a good field, but both teams had to deal with it."

attack. Crossfire continually

many, Italy, Brazil, Argen-

Weather conditions were the big story. In fact, the

tina, Mexico, Chile, China,

game was stopped two minutes into the match because

tried to probe the middle

with

forwards

Brent

Korea, Japan, South Africa,

of lightning in the area. In the first two minutes before

Richards

and

Ellis

US, and Hong Kong-host)

the lightning break Crossfire started off strong attack-

receive  places  in  the

McLoughlin. Neither left

ing in the Argentine half. After a ten minute break the

World Finals. In addition

anything on the field but

game settled down and was played mostly in midfield.

there are representatives

The field was full of water pools and kicking the ball

they were continually frus-

any distance was a challenge.

trated by a Mexican defense

from regional play-offs in

that Coach Bernie James felt

Eastern Europe & the

Crossfire defenders were challenged by the quick-

was the best Crossfire had

Middle East, Asia Pacific

ness of the Estudiantes attackers, who used the poor

plus the co-host Manchester United who gain spots in

seen all tournament. The Pumas always seemed to have

footing to their advantage. Still, the Estudiantes attack

the competition. Alumni from this tournament are now

was kept in check other than the free kick goal, which

numbers back and neither forward was given any room

playing across the globe both professionally and for

was curved over the Crossfire wall and into the upper

to operate.

The Crossfire defense also proved up to the task as

their national teams.

corner, just outside the outstretched hands of goalie

For  more  tournament  information  visit

they have been all tournament. Mexico tended to try to

Brooks Hopp. "There was nothing Brooks could do

http://www.manchesterunitedpremiercup.com/ s

come up the flanks but alert defending kept them away

about that one," said James about the goal. "It was sim-

ply a great shot."

from the Crossfire net. It is fair to say that both teams

In the second half there was no scoring but both

came ready to play and were up to the task.

Penalty kicks would decide which team was to

teams had good chances. The South Americans had a

advance to the fifth place game. There the Mexicans

one on one against the Crossfire goalkeeper when a

Crossfire Premier versus

prevailed hitting all of their shots. As heartbreaking as

pass back to the keeper got stuck in the water.

Goalkeeper Brooks Hopp alertly came out and smoth-

it was for the Washingtonians, the team was satisfied

July 20

CSKA Moscow

L

0-1

ered the Estudiantes forward. Crossfire midfielder

with its performance and continued to build on the

Liaoning YF

W

1-0

respect they have been gaining all tournament.

Kellan Brown had a shot on goal just at the end that

Crossfire played their final match against Inter

was fielded cleanly by the opposing goalkeeper.

July 21

Universidad Catolica

T

0-0

Milan from Italy. While the last match ended with the

Crossfire also had three set plays but they were unable

to take advantage of them.

Crossfire placing 8th (4-2 loss), the US team finished in

July 22

Estudiantes dLP

L

0-1

More than seven yellow cards were given out over

the top half of the tournament standings and had the

Unam Pumas

L

(1)-(4)

best result of any US club in the history of the tourna-

the course of the match, which became more and more

(Kicks from the Mark)

ment.

physical as the game went on. "You have to get used to

This is the first time in the modern format of the

the gamesmanship and aggressive nature of the South

July 23

Inter Milan

L

2-4

tournament, where 20 national and super regional

Americans," said James. It is really tough not to let that

get into your head. I think our boys learned a lot today."

champions from all over the globe compete for the

world championships for 15 year olds, that a US team

The Washington boys were back at it in the after-

has advanced to the quarterfinals.

noon against the renowned Pumas from Mexico City.

The winner of the game was to go in the bracket for

fifth or sixth place; the loser would compete for sev-

enth or eighth place. This game had all the flavor one

would expect out of a border duel from these North

Brandon Zimmerman heads one in for Crossfire.