Viet United shock Strathcona Primo in season opener
A brand new campaign of football is upon us, and with that comes even more surprises, this one coming in the first game of the season. After two vastly different seasons last year, Strathcona Primo and Viet United have returned for another summer of exciting clashes. After having their number last year, Strathcona Primo were stunned by Viet United team.
The game began with back and forth action, with neither team able to create any separation in the opening eight minutes. It might have taken longer than expected, but Strathcona Primo drew first blood in the ninth minute. It was a well-worked through ball, splitting Viet United’s defense to find Ivan Pavlyk who drilled the ball into the net to open up the score. The lead wouldn’t last long as Viet United equalized in the following minute. United dispelled a Strathcona attack, creating one of their own. After an errant clearance from the Strathcona defense, Trung Quang Huynh pounced onto the ball for a clear path for the equalizer. Luckily for Strathcona, they re-gained the lead shortly after in the 14th minute. It was the dynamic duo of Matteo Flex and Matthew Naidu returning for more link up play. Both assisted and scored on each other’s goals to increase the Strathcona lead to 3-1. It took some time, but Viet United equalized in the 21st minute with a goal from Tuan Cong Nguyen. It was a goal full of teamwork, with Viet United using the wings for a cross-goal pass to a wide open Nguyen for the goal. The sixth and final goal of the first half was scored by Richard Culleton for Strathcona Primo to take a 4-2 lead into the break. Strathcona were awarded a free kick and Culleton’s shot was intelligent that went past the wall and into the empty side of the net.
To begin the second half, it was more of the same attack from Strathcona. In the 37th minute, a quick corner was played into the box with Matteo Flex being the first to get a touch to the ball and guide it into the net for his second and Strathcona’s fifth goal. However, after creating a sizable deficit for themselves, Viet United were ready to put up a fight to end the game. In the 40th minute, United escaped some tight defending from Strathcona to create some space in front of goal for Huy Cao to score with a simple tap in. Viet United continued to pour on the attack, scoring three minutes later, with Hao Pham getting on the scoresheet. The keeper overcommitted, leaving all sorts of space for Pham to fire a high-arcing shot that found the back of the net.
The comeback wouldn’t end there, though. Viet United kept chipping at Strathcona’s lead, coming up with an equalizer in the 46th minute. It was Huynh finding his second goal of the game. He was left too much space in front of Strathcona’s goal and drilled a shot past the goalkeeper’s grasp. It wouldn’t be a complete comeback if Viet United didn’t take the lead, and that’s exactly what they did in the 50th minute. It was Pham scoring again to give Viet United the lead after trailing for the majority of the match. Another Strathcona turnover resulted in Viet United’s seventh goal. A misplaced pass into the feet of two United players proved costly as there was no resistance at the goal when Phuc Ho scored. Richard Culleton added one more goal for Strathcona with his headed effort, but it was quickly negated by Phonesavanh Phoutthavongsa’s goal to clinch the win for Viet United.
Following a poor outing last year, Viet United came out guns blazing in the first game. After falling down 5-2 in the second half, their effort never wavered as they pulled off a miraculous win. For Strathcona Primo, they’ll hope to respond in the second game, and keep their foot on the gas for the entire contest.
Strathcona Primo 6-8 Viet United
Goals: Pavlyk (9’), Flex (14’, 37’), Naidu (14’), Culleton (24’, 55’) – Huynh (10’,46’), T.C Nguyen (21’), Cao (40’), Pham (43’, 50’), Ho (53’), Phoutthavongsa (56’)
