Ballard FC Frustrated in Scoreless draw with West Seattle Junction FC

Ballard FC were held to a 0-0 draw at home Friday night by a determined West Seattle Junction side. Despite having the majority of chances, Ballard couldn’t find the breakthrough, marking their third straight draw.

The clash between top of the table Ballard FC and bottom of the table West Seattle Junction was always going to be a physical battle from the start with it being a Seattle derby. In the opening ten minutes, heavy hitting tackles flew in from both sides and the ball flew back and forth.

As the match settled, Ballard began to impose their game onto Junction who was slowly pushed further back. Richie Aman and Austin Brummett combined well in the 12th minute, with Brummett barrelling his way through defenders and rolled the ball into the back of the net, but the whistle halted the stadium’s celebrations and brought it back for a foul.

Junction’s defensive shape began to drop into a compact 5-4-1, forcing Ballard to attack from wide areas. Khai Brisco got up the field and found Joe Dale who whipped in a sharp cross in the 14th minute that went unmet, creating more pressure.

Tempers continued to rise as the half went on. Brummett was clipped from behind on a counter, and Aman was repeatedly chopped at when attempting to dribble. A heavy challenge by Brummett in the 22nd sparked a brief confrontation between the teams, with both benches animated.

Ballard’s best first-half chance came in the 32nd minute. After a Junction free kick was cleared, Aman countered, carrying the ball 50 yards down the field through defenders before cutting it back to Brummett, who came flying in but just missed the connection at the back post.

Stockton Short was tested in the 37th minute, getting down quickly to deny a driven shot from Junction forward Damoni McKenna at the near post.

After an extended break for treatment to Davis Mungomba, who had taken several knocks while shielding the ball, Ballard made their first change. Isaac Ketcham entered the match to replace Mungomba in the 43rd minute.

Aman nearly put Ballard ahead before the break, weaving into the box and firing towards the far corner, only for the shot to be cleared over. On the ensuing corner, Brisco was brought down but managed to poke the ball to Brummett, whose strike went wide. Ending the half scoreless.

The second half opened with another crunching foul as Junction defender Asher Hestad received the first booking of the game for another late challenge on Aman.

Ballard ramped up the pressure looking for that breakthrough while Junction sat deep and looked for a counter or set piece chance.

In the 48th minute, Brisco whipped in a first-time cross to the back post where Mendez met it, but the header was deflected wide. Then in the 52nd, Brisco surged forward and was taken down just outside the box.

Luke Hammond’s ensuing free kick was blocked, and Abeselom Zemenfes followed up with a strong strike, but it was well caught by the keeper.

Brisco received a yellow card in the 56th minute for a delayed whistle on an earlier challenge. More changes followed in the 61st as Dale and Mendez made way for Ramsey and Kosakoff, injecting two new options into the final third.

In the 64th, a Hammond corner scrambled through bodies and Aman’s follow-up cross was punched out. Christian Engmann collided with the goalkeeper, and received a yellow card for the unintentional, but late challenge.

Ballard threw everything forward as the minute began to tick down. In the 74th minute, Charlie Holmes, Juan Alvarez, and Beto Apolinar entered as the side continued to search for a way to break the deadlock.

Holmes made an instant impact in the 79th, weaving into the box and firing from close range—his shot was blocked, and Hammond’s rebounded volley flashed just wide.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added. Holmes saw his header from a corner caught in the 91st. In the 93rd, Hammond overlapped and tried to square across goal but lost his footing and sent it over the bar.

The final chance came in the final minute. Substitute Juan Alvarez broke free 1v1 but couldn’t get enough on the shot, sending it straight at the Junction keeper. In the final seconds, Holmes crossed to Engmann, who headed across goal to Brisco. He attempted a bicycle kick finish—but couldn’t connect and the final whistle sounded.

MATCH DETAILS

FULLTIME: Ballard FC 0 – 0 West Seattle Junction FC

Starting XI: Short, Hammond, Mungomba, Engmann, Brisco, Philibbosian, Zemenfes, Mendez, Aman, Dale, Brummett

Subs: Ketcham, Ramsey, Kosakoff, Holmes, Alvarez, Apolinar, Otero, Spatz, T. Wilson

Player of the Match: Christian Engmann – With a lights out defensive performance to help keep another clean sheet.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Ballard FC hit the road to face Tacoma Stars on Tuesday in an important clash as the top of the table tightens. The Bridges remain unbeaten, but will be eager to return to winning ways. After Tuesday, Ballard FC will travel to Eugene on Friday, June 27th for a battle with Lane United. Their next home match is Wednesday, July 2nd also against the Tacoma Stars, with a 7pm kick off at Interbay.

Written by Rowan Rathbun