U-16s Fall In State Cup Final
A controversial penalty kick with 4 minutes to play was the difference in this afternoon’s Connecticut Cup U-16 state final.
The Westport Soccer Association squad had struck first against Wethersfield, then fell behind 2-1. But the locals took the match to the upstaters in the 2nd half, and equalized. The late PK call was converted; Wethersfield added a final score with 1 second to play as Westport pushed everyone up. The final 4-2 score is not indicative of the way Westport — a team of all freshmen, facing a sophomore-dominated side — played.
In the 10th minute, Matteo Broccolo picked up a loose ball at the corner of the box. He calmly chipped the keeper, with a clever outside-of-the-foot shot.
But Wethersfield charged right back, finishing a scramble in front of the net to draw even a few seconds later.
Luca Cocito was denied by a great save, but Westport pounced again when Jerrett Rende — up from defense for set plays — scuffed in Broccolo’s long free kick.
Luka Autard smacked a shot off the crossbar, as Westport took charge in the 2nd half.
The dubious call came with only 3 minutes remaining. Defender Josh Berman — who with Rende and the other backs kept Wethersfield at bay the entire half — was injured on the play. But the PK was true, and though Westport worked hard for the equalizer, time ran out.
Including last fall’s unbeaten campaign, the loss was the 1st for Westport in over a year.
Congratulations to the Westport Soccer Association squad and coach Javier on an excellent run.
The Westport Soccer Association U-16 squad: Connecticut Cup runners-up.
