BocaFC
San Diego, Ca – San Diego Boca FC earned a spot in the Western Division championship game with a resounding 4-0 defeat of Real San Jose Saturday night in San Jose. Boca FC will now face off against the winner of the other semi-final, which is set to take place Sunday night in Sacramento between the Sacramento Gold and Bay Area Ambassadors.
This result is a huge indication of the transformation that San Diego has gone through this season. They dominated in all areas of the game winning loose balls, moving the ball well, disciplined defending, and finishing their scoring opportunities.
Boca FC Head Coach Papo Santos said of the game, “We played our hearts out today. We played hard, we played smart, and we played as a team. This is the performance that we have worked so hard all season to be able to put together. We have played well so far this season, but we are peaking at the right time. Now we will have to step it up even further when we face our next opponent. Both Bay Area and Sacramento are technically skilled, disciplined, and physical teams, and we will be tested again.”
San Diego Boca FC got huge contributions from Justin Picou, Abaraham Gomez, Jared Kukura, and Steve Gonzalez. Picou got Boca FC on the board early in the first half when he headed home a cross from Andres Canizalez in the 13th minute to give Boca FC the 1-0 lead. Defender Jared Kukura got in the scoring action when he finished a rebound from a shot off a free kick from Dan Antoniuk in the 27th minute. Gomez extended the Boca FC lead in the 40th minute when he connected on the back end of through ball and rocketed a shot past the diving Real San Jose goalie from 25 yards out, putting San Diego up 3-0. San Jose lost its composure, and were reduced to 10 men when a midfielder came in hard with a two-footed tackle on Mike Grba, receiving a red card just before the whistle for half time. Boca FC forward Justin Picou notched his second goal of the match with a diving header off a cross, increasing the visitors’ lead to 4-0 and practically shutting the door for San Jose in the 58th minute.
Boca FC goalie Steve Gonzalez came away with his first clean sheet of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Although he was rarely tested throughout the competition, his saves were vital in maintaining the momentum that San Diego amassed. Steve Gonzalez made a fingertip save on a shot from Real San Jose striker Johnny Gonzalez in the 23rd minute that would have evened the score at 1-1, and definitely would have shifted the flow of the match. The Boca FC keeper again made a crucial stop on a breakaway in the 63rd minute to keep the shutout intact. He had a dominating presence in the box, consistently knocking away crosses and securing shots without allowing rebounds.
About San Diego Boca FC
San Diego Boca FC is part of the Western Division of the 31-team National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). San Diego Boca FC was founded to promote professional, amateur, and youth soccer throughout San Diego County through a grassroots approach, following that of storied Argentina club Boca Juniors. For more information, visit www.sdboca.com or www.npsl.info.
Boca Soccer Store
San Diego Boca FC also owns and operates the Boca Soccer Store located in Old Town, San Diego at 1919 San Diego Ave, San Diego, Ca 92110.
Boca Soccer Store carries Lotto, Nike, Adidas, and much more. Soccer enthusiasts can browse through our selection of jerseys, cleats, balls, bags, and more. Also, come check out our ESPN Soccer Zone Lounge Area for free viewing of all 2010 World Cup matches including daily Fox Soccer, Gol TV, ESPN Deportes coverage on our 55” HD TV’s.
Matt Gorham
Director of Media Relations
San Diego Boca FC
619.221.8023
mattg@sdboca.com
www.sdboca.com
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Photo:
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