Photo: Ali Gilmore
Cascadia make history with first win
Barawa 1 : 2 Cascadia
Cascadia came from behind to get the first win in their history at the 2018 ConIFA World Cup. They beat Barawa 2-1 at Carshalton Stadium. Mohamed Bettamer opened the scoring for Barawa earlyin the first half but Josh Doughty and Hector Morales put the Cascadians ahead before the interval, a lead hey held until the final whistle.
Barawa settled quicker and soon made it count. Gianni Crichlow’s cross from the right was excellent and Bettamer timed his jump superbly to give Barawa an early lead. His appearance on the teamsheet had caused consternation, as the Libyan international was not in the squad submitted to ConIFA on deadline day, and seemed to have been added purely to better the squad in a manner refused to other squads.
Calum Ferguson had Cascadia’s first shot in ten minutes but it went tamely wide. Nonetheless the Cascadians were growing into the game and had two rapid shots blocked by brave Barawa defending before Anthony Wright had a further effort well blocked. Max Oldham and Ferguson were causing havoc in a inexperienced Barawa defence and the defending became more chaotic.
Eventually the prressure paid off when Josh Doughty equalised after 34 minutes after some good work on the left by Charlie Gregory.
The white shirts were now in the ascendance and getting closer and closer. They inched ahead just before half time when midfielder Hector Morales bundled Cascadia into the lead after more panic defending.
Oldham had performed superbly in the first half and continued to torture Barawa throughout the game. Barawa had possession but most of the betterchances fell to Cascadia.
Jordan Wilson sent a header down and wide from a corner when he should have at least tested the keeper. A Yuri Farkas drive was blocked and substitute Keaton Levock also had a late chance. As if to confirm the Cascadian dominance, even defender Charlie Gregory had a late shot from distance which the keeper held.
Jon Nouble had made his ConIFA debut when he replaced an exhausted Ferguson and may be a starter against a Tamil Eelam side who have lost twice.
As a result of the win, Cascadia join Barawa on three points. Tamil Eelam lost 2-0 Ellan Vannin in the other game in the group.
Ellan Vannin now have six points with the Tamils yet to register a point. Cascadia play them tomorrow although even a win will not guarantee them progress if Barawa beat Ellan Vannin.
As James Riley said after the loss to Ellan Vannin, “we still have history to write”. And now they have. Tomorrow will see how much more.
