Dos Pueblos’ Drew Richard and the Chargers withstood heavy pressure to hold San Marcos scoreless in the second half of Tuesday’s Channel League game at Warkentin Stadium. (Presidio Sports Photos)
Early goals by Manny Nwosu and Julio Rubio took on extra importance on Tuesday as Dos Pueblos’ boys soccer team was forced to play San Marcos for nearly 50 minutes a man down.
Already with the early lead, the Chargers were able to focus on defense and still came away with a 4-1 decision over the Royals in a Channel League match.
“We felt that because we got a couple goals in the first half, we weren’t as concerned with the offensive portion of it, that we were kind of more looking to keep it in and not give up many chances,” said Chargers head coach Matt York.
Dos Pueblos’ Manny Nwosu celebrates the first of his two goals, which put the Chargers up 1-0.
Nwosu and Rubio provided most of the offense for Dos Pueblos. Each player scored twice and recorded an assist. The duo had already scored three times when DP keeper Alex Mathews was sent off with a red card for touching a high-bouncing ball outside of the penalty area while San Marcos was on the attack. The play saved a goal but left the Chargers with nine field players for the last few minutes of the first half and the entire second half.
From there, it was all Royals.
Robbie Landeros stepped up and crushed the free kick at the top of the penalty arc into the upper left corner, cutting the lead to 3-1 just before halftime.
The momentum carried over to the second half, when San Marcos maintained steady pressure throughout the half. Dos Pueblos didn’t punch in its fourth goal until stoppage time while catching San Marcos pressing forward.
“Credit San Marcos, when they were down 0-3, coming back in, it really felt like it was a tie game for much of that game,” York said.
Dos Pueblos withdrew into a 4-4-1 and defenders Jessie Jimenez, Tim Heiduk, Tucker Snider, Jon Sigurdson and Walter Hernandez made play after play, including several goal-line clearances of would-be goals.
“I’m happy with the work effort and the boys fought hard,” said Royals head coach Rob Lauderdale. “The 4-1 to me doesn’t tell the story.”
Robbie Landeros scored San Marcos’ goal
Lauderdale felt his team came ready to play but allowing the early goals made it an “uphill battle.”
“The ball doesn’t seem like it’s bouncing our way right now.”
The game plan changed quickly when Rubio fed a long pass to Nwosu, who headed it over the charging goalie. Dos Pueblos took the lead in the 7th minute and soon made it 2-0 in the 12th minute when Rubio took a pass from Hernandez and beat San Marcos keeper Kyle Carter 1v1.
Then once again, in the 21st minute, Nwosu scored his second on another 1v1. The forward leads the Chargers with 11 goals on the season.
“We shuffled the lineup a little bit to have both those guys, Manny and Julio, up top together, to kind of let some creativity, a little power, a little fire and ice – I don’t know what you want to call it,” York said. “But it was pretty fun to watch their chemistry in the first half and how quickly they gelled.”
The four goals were Dos Pueblos’ most in a Channel League game since the 2010-11 season.
“I think it was a great team effort,” said Rubio. “Battling back from 1-player down, I think we all stepped up and knew what we had to do so it was a great win.”
The result makes Dos Pueblos 2-1 in league and San Marcos 0-2.
The Chargers don’t play another league game until January 28 at Ventura.
San Marcos, which is dealing with an injury-depleted roster, gets a week off before facing Ventura in its next match.
“We’re going to keep working hard and hopefully things fall into place,” Lauderdale said.
Dos Pueblos’ Jessie Jimenez heads away a shot attempt.
