Saturday afternoon’s regular season finale did not go as planned for Ballard FC at Interbay Stadium as they lost their first league match at home to Snohomish United.
After the weekend’s 2-1 loss, Ballard FC have now lost two matches in a row as they head into the postseason and will need to turn it around quickly to go on the deep run the fans will be hoping for.
Much like the earlier meeting between the two sides, Saturday’s in-state battle was very physical with both teams trying to make an early statement.
The first chance of the match came in the 12th minute for the visitors as Connor Lofy’s cross went across the 6 yard box, narrowly missing the outstretched legs of Eric Lagos.
Ten minutes later, the hosts would get a pair of chances as both Charlie Kosakoff and Auston Brummett found themselves with chances to shoot around the penalty spot. Kosakoff’s looping effort went over the bar while Brummett’s shot was blocked.
Then disaster struck for the hosts as Lofy beat Abeselom Zemenfes to a loose ball in the box, drawing a foul and earning Snohomish a spot kick. The penalty was calmly dispatched in the 28th minute by Aaron Leon.
The rest of the half was controlled by Ballard FC as the hosts looked for an equalizer. The match got very physical, culminating in a yellow card for Snohomish’s Julian Avila in the 42nd minute as he fouled Richie Aman numerous times in the first half. A minute later, head coach James Riley would pick up a yellow of his own for dissent.
Ballard’s best chance came in the 43rd minute as Beto Apolinar found Kosakoff who went for the chip, but ultimately could not keep it under the bar.
It seemed like the second half would be more of the same with the visitors holding on to their narrow lead. However in the 50th minute, Lofy picked the pocket of Apolinar, dribbled past one defender and found the far corner from just outside the box.
As the match went on, the home side got more and more frustrated. In the 57th minute, Brummett received a yellow card for intentionally blocking Jadon Bowton’s punt.
In the 62nd minute, coach Riley made six substitutions as Rafi Otero, Omar Yehya, Omar Grey, Isaac Ketcham, Sean Sent, and Zach Ramsey replaced Kosakoff, Apolinar, Aman, Joe Dale, Khai Brisco, and Luke Hammond.
The subs made an instant impact as Otero created two chances before the 65th minute and also had a penalty claim that was waved away by the referee. Then in the 66th, Ramsey’s volley forced Bowton to make a sharp save at his near post.
In the 70th minute, Riley used his seventh and final substitution as Cameron Cruz replaced Christian Engmann to add more firepower to the attack.
The final yellow card of the match came in the 88th minute as Andre Philibbosian brought down a Cristian Soto to stop the counter attack.
Ballard would not go down without a fight, finally pulling a goal back in the 90th minute as Grey picked out Otero who headed it into the far post.
Ultimately it was too little to late as Snohomish United would win 2-1 and clinch a playoff spot in their inaugural season.
MATCH DETAILS
FULLTIME: Ballard FC 1 – 2 Snohomish United
Starting XI: Lanphier, Hammond, C. Engmann, Zemenfes, Brisco, Apolinar, Philibbosian, Brummett, Aman, Dale, Kosakoff
Substitutes: Otero, Yehya, Grey, Brisco, Ketcham, Ramsey, Cruz, N. Engmann, Short
WHAT’S NEXT?
Ballard fc will host playoff matches at home on July 18th and 20th! After Snohomish United takes on Utah United at 2pm on July 18th, Ballard FC will host the Colorado Storm at 7:30. Then, the winners of Friday’s matches will face off Sunday at 2pm in the Western Conference Semifinal.
Written by Max Dresbach
