Comeback stuns Pirates
Top-seed Waukegan ended the boys soccer season of Palatine in stunning style when Luis Medina struck the game-winner in the 84th minute Wednesday night in the Class 3A sectional semifinals at the Libertyville Soccer Complex.
After receiving the No. 1 seed weeks ago over the likes of Deerfield, Stevenson, St. Viator and No. 5 Palatine, coach Joe Martinez's club validated its lofty selection after its 2-1 victory over the Pirates (18-5-1) to advance into Saturday's 11 a.m. sectional championship match against No. 2 Deerfield, which defeated upset-minded Carmel 4-1 in the second semifinal.
"This is a team which won just 10 matches last year, but lost five 1-goal games along the way," said Martinez, who previously led the Grayslake program. "But a win like tonight, against a quality program, should help give our program some well-deserved respect."
A rather auspicious start likely gave Martinez cause to be concerned as the Pirates struck early.
Off a long throw from Willie Filian on the left side, the Mid-Suburban West co-champions would find the back of the net, albeit after the Filian toss would be re-directed first by Josh Clark, then Glen Arnold, before an unfortunate Waukegan (18-2-3) had the final touch.
However, instead of this goal at just two minutes helping breathe new life into the Pirates, it would almost seem to recussitate a club which could have been sent reeling by the own goal.
The thrilling attacking trident of Julio Ibarra, Roberto Hernandez and Medina proved to be too much for the Pirates, as were the Bulldogs' midfield, which, despite being undersized by their counterparts, were quick with and without the ball and terrific ball-winners to help keep the pressure on the Pirates.
"The skill that (Waukegan) has went a long way in exposing some of our weaknesses that we have," admitted Palatine coach Willie Filian. "Today we were able to get the desired first goal of the match, and after that we just hoped that we would be able to (see) that 1-goal lead hold up for the rest of the way, but it didn't."
After the break, it was one-way traffic for Waukegan, which would find space inside the Pirates area for long periods of time. While the match was keenly contested by the midfield and backline of Palatine in hopes of keeping the lead, it took a superb save from keeper Kyle Held and a bit of good luck to keep Waukegan from equalizing.
Held somehow was able to get a glove on a sure back of the net blast from Lucas Lopez at the hour mark and would watch the Bulldogs miss in close when their touch betrayed their shooters.
At 77 minutes, Francisco Sajuan headed just under Held from in close, before nearly watching his teammate Medina do the same as regulation neared an end.
Two minutes into the overtime, Palatine's Josh Feldman had a chance at the far post but his header went just wide, setting up Medina's heroics.
"With the way Waukegan was playing, and keeping the pressure on us during most of the second half, you just knew it was a matter of time before they would score," Filian would say. "But credit Waukegan, because today they deserved to win this match."