Martyrs – Redemptoris Mater
In a match billed as a possible breakthrough moment for American soccer in Rome, history shunned transformation in favor of repetition, as the North American Martyrs once again fell to the Neo-Catechumenal Way’s Redemptoris Mater 1-0. Coming after the Easter pause in play, the match assures Redemptoris, the defending Clericus Cup champion, first place in Group A entering the May playoffs. More importantly, however, the contest reasserts the Neo-Cats as the class of the Cup – a motivating realization for the Martyrs.
From the outset, the Martyrs looked both parts energetic and erratic, often sending crisp passes to the feet of a Neo-Cat defender. For all of its dominance in possession, however, Redemptoris had nothing to show for it. The opposition’s strategy of sending “through balls” to their front-line forwards was counteracted by a unified defensive front, as David Santos ’12 (Newark) and his line drew eleven offsides penalties in the match.
With Redemptoris’ chances frustrated by the linesman’s flag, the Martyrs’ athleticism and effort kept them in the contest. Playing the ball down the perimeter of the field, offensive chances came mainly from an occasional back-line foul. Santos, the squad’s normal free-kick taker, served a ball into the box in the 9th minute that momentarily escaped the grasp of the opposing goalie, only to be collected before any Martyr could pounce on the miscue.
That the 9th minute free kick was one of the rare offensive opportunities in the first half serves as a testament to the play of Redemptoris Mater sweeper Davide Tisato. Regarded by many as the best player in the Clericus competition, the Italian seemingly effortlessly cleared balls and steadied the play of his less gifted teammates. Having studied philosophy in Rome, the 2nd-year Theology Tisato has annually displayed the rare talent of controlling the game against the American side, both defensively, by helping to keep the Martyrs without a goal in now five contests, and offensively, by moving forward during set pieces. Acknowledging Tisato’s unparalleled skill, the Martyrs’ strategy was to attack quickly when the defender was on the offensive side of the field. The plan seemed to wear him down match’s end, but the breakthrough goal remained elusive.
As the contest neared halftime, the 0-0 tie appeared to be the destined score for intermission. Redemptoris Mater, however, does have a flair for the dramatic. In an eerie parallel to the decisive extra-time goal it scored in the first half of last year’s final, the Neo-Cats struck again with mere seconds remaining before the whistle. With the defense set and the ball being headed back-and-forth near the Martyrs’ end line, a Neo-Cat lifted a cross near the goal. Emerging from among four defenders, the Red-Mats’ leading scorer Emmanuele Grisante found the ball tracking for his leg. The Italian forward struck it soundly, and at such a close range, goalkeeper Daniel Gallagher ’13 (Pittsburgh) could do little more than wave at it. The goal made it 1-0 and sent the Redemptoris side into a dog-pile celebration much to the delight of its guitar-strumming fans.
On the American side, though, hope was not lost. Fortified by another pre-game tailgate and encouraged by the electric keytar-playing of Stephen Vrazel ’11 (Mobile) and drum-pounding of Rich Mastrogiacomo ’11 (Rockville Centre), Martyrs fans announced they would not go quietly. The energy of the halftime performance was mirrored by the play on the field in the early going. In the 40th minute, it appeared – however momentarily – the energy would lead to success. Catching Tisato in an attacking position, Deacon James Morrison ’10 (Mobile) neared midfield with the ball and saw fellow veteran Deacon Daniel O’Mullane ’10 (Patterson) in place to receive a forward pass. As the ball moved toward its intended target and a one-on-one for O’Mullane, Fabio Perdomo, the last remaining Red-Mat defender, raised his elbow shoulder-high, deflecting the ball from its path. Though an intentional hand ball in such a situation usually merits a red card and an expulsion from the contest, head referee Moretti found only a yellow card in his pocket for the Columbian defender. Santos’ ensuing free kick sailed high over the goal, eliminating any scoring chance for the Martyrs.
Even up 1-0, Tisato’s magic was not complete. Turning away yet another pass in the attacking zone in the 47th minute, the Neo-Cat sweeper held on to the ball, moving it up the Martyrs’ left side past waves of players. Finding himself near the top of the goalie box with one defender in his path, he struck a beautiful cross that barely over-shot a trailing teammate on the right side.
As the Martyrs hunted for an equalizer, they found one more opportunity in extra time. Chris Seiler ’13 (St. Louis) sent a corner kick into a scrum of players in the middle of the box. With the Red-Mat goalie out of position and bodies on the ground, the ball bounced to the top of the box and to the foot of O’Mullane. Moving past one defender and searching for an opening, a challenge came from behind but found only O’Mullane’s left leg. Much to the dismay of the American side, Referee Moretti, however, signaled only “play on.”
After another scoring opportunity for the Red-Mats went wide of the mark, the match concluded with the familiar 1-0 score – the fourth time in five matches the Martyrs have found themselves on the wrong end of such a conclusion. Despite the nerves and lay-off, the opposing skill and moxie, the American side only lost by a goal to the two-time Clericus Cup champion. Different results in only a hand-full of plays would have swung the decision dramatically. The search for those plays and full form continues, as the Martyrs conclude their regular season schedule with an engagement with the French.
