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Chamblee not a fluke
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two years ago, Chamblee did not merit a blip on the boys soccer radar. Three decades had passed since the Bulldogs made the playoffs.
Today, they matter.
Friday night, amid clouds and occasional downpours, Chamblee’s delirious fans stormed the field after a 2-0 quarterfinal victory over perennial power McIntosh. At McIntosh.
It was a triumph that was no fluke. Although probably not as talented, the Bulldogs were quick, fast and determined. And those elements won out.
“At this point, there’s not much coaching left to do,” Chamblee coach Uwe Neuhaus said. “It’s mostly about encouraging them and letting them know they can do it.”
Still, Neuhaus understood it would take far more than self-esteem to knock off McIntosh. So he implemented a seldom-used strategy for him, deploying a gang of Bulldogs in the middle of the field to prevent McIntosh from “controlling the game,” he said.
It worked. The Chiefs seemed stunned that the entire first half came and went with just a few threatening shots toward the net, but no score.
The Bulldogs were aggressive and unhesitant, burrowing about the field with abandon and purpose. Early, when their adrenaline was at its apex, Chamblee consistently beat McIntosh to the ball. After the Bulldogs settled into the action, they were still effective, but also fortunate.
A couple of McIntosh scoring chances were either blocked by Zach Walldorf or just missed.
The problem with assigning so many players to congest the center of the field was that it limited the number of Bulldogs’ scoring opportunities. So, while they were capably containing McIntosh, they were no real threat to score.
Finally, the Bulldogs broke through. Julian Escheverri put in a header off a feed in front of the goal with 33:37 left for a 1-0 advantage. The Chamblee crowd cheered a cheer that was not of surprise, but pride. The groan on the McIntosh side was one of shock.
The Chiefs won the state championship in 2000 and were runners-up last year. They are always in the mix. To lose to Chamblee represented an enormous disappointment for a team with title aspirations.
Once the Chiefs fell behind, their level of play switched to desperation. Meanwhile, the defensive strategy Neuhaus developed had even more purpose. And the Bulldogs’ confidence expanded like a balloon. Were it not for a pair of spectacular saves by McIntosh’s Matt Rogers, it could have been worse.
McIntosh actually looked to be prepared to score first when sophomore Derek Farnsworth found himself in front of the goal with an open net, Walldorf having fallen to the ground.
Farnsworth kicked the ball toward the unattended goal, a sure score. However, Michael McQueen jetted across and kicked the ball over the net just a foot or so from crossing the goal line in a remarkable play.
That should have signaled it was a special night for heretofore unheralded Chamblee. If not then, certainly when Walldorf made a series of diving saves from point-blank kicks.
Last year was the Bulldogs’ first postseason appearance in 30 years. With 12 seniors, there were expectations of something good this season. But not this.
“We’re not the best skilled,” Neuhaus said. “But we play with a lot of heart.”
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Comments
By abdella
May 7, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this
I’m telling yall these boy are something serious!!! Yall better bring your “A” game or we shutting them down. Oh yeah and Michael McQueen is my boy! wat up boy.. yall like that save.. i thought him that :-)