Ferguson and Hayden-Smith celebrate a Cascadia goal
Photo: Ali Gilmore/Prost Amerika
Cascadia 3 : 3 Panjab (Panjab win 4-3 on penalties)
Cascadia came back from 3-0 down to draw a pulsating game 3-3 against Panjab. The game then went to penalties where the men from Northern India triumphed 4-3. Cascadia finish sixth in their first ever tournament as a result, behind the Panjabis who were fifth. Hector Morales scored one Calum Ferguson scored twice, the latter finishing as Cascadia’s top scorer with five goals.
Forced to play the first half in shorts generously supplied by the United Koreans of Japan iand training bibs due to a kit snafu, Cascadia shaded the opening exchanges and Ferguson was the first to threaten but Panjab keeper Raajan Gill was up to the challenge. Panjab captain Amarvir Sandhu had to provide a great interception to keep it goalless eight minutes later.
The pendulum swung back to Panjab and the excellent Nathan Minhas volleyed over to warn Cascadia of the monsoon to come.
18 minutes in, the first goal of Panjab’s three arrived. A great breakaway was started and finished by Rajpal Uirk via several sweet passes to sweep the ball up the field and open the scoring with a textbook team goal.
Cascadia bounced back and Ferguson brought another save from Gill which proved to be a turning point in a game of turning points.
Nathan Minhas was outstanding for Panjab
Photo: Ali Gilmore
In the 23rd minute, the dangerous Minhas scored Panjab’s second by burying the ball past Alejandro De La Torre with power just after the previously influential Sandhu had unfortunately hobbled off to be replaced by Nikkinder Uppal.
Although two goals ahead, the Panjabis were far from dominant and the game was still open. But, backed by an enthusiastic support, Panjab were clinical and ruthless.
In the 34th minute, Minhas slotted the ball under De La Torre for his second and Panjab’s third. It was harsh on Cascadia but what happened next proved their spirit. They just kept chipping away and heads were far from down.
Five minutes later, the hyperactive Ferguson missed Cascadia’s best chance from an Oldham cross under great pressure from defender Kamawit Singh. Singh needed treatment but his interception like Sandhu before, was crucial.
Hector Morales finally put Cascadia on the board with header from a right wing corner just before half time. He timed his jump well and he was the first to meet the ball. Cascadia were still two down, but Ferguson was about to rescue matters in the second half.
Gill saved Panjab again, this time from a great Hayden-Smith header and then he defied Ferguson yet again before Max Oldham drove just past Gill’s left hand post. It was all Cascadia and the brave blue wall could not withstand much more.
Ferguson brought it back to 2-3 shortly after, when Morales unselfishly set him up for a tap-in when he would have been entitled to bag the chance for himself.
Max Oldham had an outstanding tournament for Cascadia
Photo: Ali Gilmore
Ferguson and Cascadia were not to be denied and leveled shortly after the Scot brought the ball under his control and finished with power. Oldham tested Gill again who pouched at the second attempt to preserve parity.
At the other end, Kamawit Singh fired over the bar and despite losing a three goal lead, Panjab were busy forcing an incredible save from De La Torre at point blank range in the game’s best save, on an afternoon where there were many.
An Oldham blast was saved by Gill and a Ferguson effort blocked as the pendulum swung to Cascadia one last time. A draw was fair though to both sides and the last chance was foiled when Sufyan Zia made a great tackle to save parity and send the game to penalties.
Cascadia Starting XI: De la Torre; Riley, Gregory, Patrick Wilson, Wright, Jordan Wilson, Morales, Farkas, Hayden-Smith, Oldham, Ferguson
