It took Extra Time and a pinch of Ballard Magic for the Northwest Division champions to defeat Ventura County Fusion on Friday afternoon. The win means Ballard FC are Western Conference champions and move on to the National Semifinal on Sunday, July 30th at 7:00 PM (ET) against the Flint City Bucks.
The match looked all but over in the 81st minute as Fusion held a commanding 2-0 lead. Against all odds, Stas Korzeniowski and the Ballard FC side made every youth coach happy by proving how dangerous a 2-0 lead can be.
Things got off to a quick start with Ventura County opening the scoring in the 7th minute. The Fusion’s Fofanah glided past his marker on the right flank and rocketed a top-shelf strike past Lars Helleren to put Ventura in front.
The rest of the first half was relatively even between the two sides as the players all battled the heat. The hydration break around the half-hour mark was greatly appreciated and the game’s intensity went up for the final 15 minutes of the first half. With a more intense finish to the half, Fusion’s Cekrezi and Ricketts both received yellow cards for harsh challenges before the teams went into the locker room at 1-0.
The second half started equally as intense with Danny Robles and Leo Burney both getting quick yellows for Ballard FC. The Fusion almost doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, but Helleren made a huge stop to keep the deficit at one.
However, Ventura would grab their second only a few minutes later. Fusion center-back, Juan Pablo Alvarez, roped one into the top corner from 40 yards out in the 60th minute to double their advantage.
Both goals for Ventura County felt like they had come out of nothing, sudden strikes that could kill a team’s confidence. This Ballard side, however, never backed down and never seemed to lose hope. With the second-half substitutions from Interim Head Coach Ethan O’Neill, Ballard would fight back into the match.
It took until the 82nd minute to finally see the coaching changes and hard work pay off, with Stas Korzeniowski finding the goal which would get Ballard FC back into the match. While everyone seemed to be waiting on a penalty after Lesia Thetsane was brought down in the box, Korzeniowski collected the loose ball and tucked it home. The comeback was on.
With time running out, a desperation deep-ball from Leo Burney found the head of Eric Lagos, whose leaping header struck an outstretched arm from Ventura County, earning Ballard a penalty kick in the 90th minute.
Who else but Stas Korzeniowski would step up to bury it from the spot in the 92nd minute.
Two late goals from the Bridges star striker would be enough to keep Ballard’s season alive and send this one into extra time. But the drama would not stop there.
At the start of extra time, it was evident that Ballard FC were on the front foot. Not content with his brace, Korzeniowski would find another.
In the 93rd minute, a clever ball from captain Thetsane fooled Ventura’s back line, leaving Korzeniowski through on goal. He would only need one touch to beat the goalkeeper and complete his hat-trick, with all goals coming in a 12-minute span.
Ballard FC found themselves leading for the first time all night, and the party did not stop there.
In the 102nd minute, Charlie Gaffney pulled out a top-drawer strike, curling one from outside the box past a full-stretch Fusion keeper to make it 4-2. This was a team goal with a beautiful buildup from Thetsane to Dadzie to Korzeniowski — finishing with a wonder-strike on the right foot of Gaffney. Korzeniowski would also finish the match with three goals and an assist.
Despite another Fusion goal in the 105th minute, Ventura County was not able to complete a comeback of their own.
Ballard FC would hold on to win 4-3, clinching the Western Conference Championship in dramatic fashion.
The Bridges now set their sights on Sunday, facing off against the Flint City Bucks at Atwood Stadium in the USL 2 National Semifinals.
Reuben’s Brews Taproom will be hosting another Watch Party for fans, or watch live from the Michigan Sports Network YouTube Channel. The action kicks off at 4 p.m. PT | 7:00 p.m. ET.
UP THE BRIDGES!!!
Photos courtesy of Blake Dahlin
