The Goal failed to dampen the Seahorse Spirit, with numerous raids on the Saints Goalkeeper following. Firstly through a Joey Cascio strike and then after some quick flank play Mark Clitnovici's effort from the edge of the box was brilliantly saved by the Saints Goalkeeper, to deny the home team a quick fire equaliser.
The pressure kept mounting and with the introduction of Christian Rus and Andrew Sarega back from a training session with the PDL squad the seahorses soon found their stride. With 15mins remaining a Clitnovici Free Kick found Christian Rus open and his looping header found the back of the net only to be judged OFFSIDE. The Seahorses rallied with constant pressure from the speedy strikeforce of Andrew Sarega, Christian Rus and Joey Cascio. They were finally rewarded when a scorching cross from Cascio on the right found Ben Orr who was able to get part of his leg on the ball and find the bottom corner of the net. 1-1.
The goal sparked more from the Seahorses who came close again through both Sarega and Orr again, who managed to miss a seemingly simple 2nd goal for the home team.
The second half started just as the first had finished with a constant barage from the Seahorses on the Saints 18 yard box. Unfortunately for all their pressure it was the Saints who came closest only to be denied by Kadera who for the second week in a row pulled off extraordinary saves and constantly frustrated the Saints powerful strikeforce, consisting of former Seahorse & Biola soccer standout Cedric Ernst. It was left to the - Romania Connection - Sarega and Rus to combine for the 2nd and 3rd Seahorse goals. Sarega was calmly played through by Rus who pounced on a defensive lapse, to expertly finish for the seahorses 2nd. Sarega returned the favour by providing Rus with his 1st goal for the Seahorses on Debut, and the teams 3rd.
The game seemed over and dusted by the 75min mark, only for Cristian Rus to add his second after Matt 'Skillhound' Morse played another classy ball through the Saints defense for Rus to run onto, before rounding the keeper and finding the back of the net. A typically professional bow insued.
The Seahorses could have added further misery to the Saints day by adding a couple of extra goals late on. Only to be judged offside on both occasions. Firstly Clitnovici sprinted onto a Sarega ball, beat the Saints defender before laying it off for Sarega, who inturn unselfishly passed to an Off Side Rus. Again just before time Rus was again judged off side after a brilliant combination in midfield from Orr and Mario Medina, who found him open for the Seahorses 5th, yet again the flag was raised, dissapointing the Seahorses further.
All in all a good peformance by the Seahorses who maintain their steady challenge to the League leaders in the later half of the season.
The win moved the Seahorses into 2nd tied with Cal United on points and just 4 behind the NHBV RES. who maintain a confident end to the season.
Next week the Seahorses are up against a Premier League team, Newcastle in the Raul Briones League Cup Round of 16 matchup. Newcastle is at the bottom of the Premier League and still winless this season. It will be tough task of the Seahorses to continue a great run in the cup this season, but if their run is to continue they must shorly be pleased with the the draw and a chance to knock off a Premier League team out of the Cup. Join us at Biola on Sunday, 3pm for what looks an interesting Knock-out Clash in the cup.