Elmwood are as predictable as they are effective. They marshal a strong defense, get their tackles in, and rely on a steady diet of set pieces pumped into the box to take advantage of their giant sized squad. The early going was a bit of a midfield battle but CSSC managed to open up two good chances. On the first Eli just missed connecting with an Ed Gonzales cross in very close to goal. The second came off a marauding run by Stef Fischer, who worked a nice give and go with Charaf at the edge of the Elmwood box but couldn't quite find the top corner. Elmwood also had chances, coming the closest when a close ranger header across the face of goal bounced inches wide of the post. Then, late in the half, Greg Chernomas worked a yard of space just to the left of the box and slammed home a low drive. 1-0 at the half.
The second half put the wind at Elmwood's back literally and figuratively. They pressed CSSC hard for most of the half and several of their long throw ins caused massive panic in the CSSC box, once hitting a cross bar and another headed just over the bar. For its part CSSC was limited to a couple of long range shots by Chernomas and I Hudson. Just as it appeared that CSSC was getting a handle on the game and seeing it out safely yet another long throw caused yet another five alarm emergency in the CSSC defense. Aiken was able to scramble away what appeared to be a certain goal just as it crossed the line, but in the ensuing scramble he was adjudged by the very officious ref to have fouled an Elmwood forward. The resulting penalty was calmly dispatched by Jose to make it 1-1. Off to overtime.
The first half of overtime again saw CSSC take the lead and, again, it was a well taken low Chernomas rocket from the top of the box. Again, things were looking good as CSSC managed to hold the lead going into the second half of overtime. CSSC were still creating some chances and were unlucky to have a close range I Hudson tap in ruled out for offside. Yet, again disaster struck as Sean Brown was controversially called for hand ball just outside the CSSC area. The wall was, perhaps, set up a bit farther left than it should have been, and the Elmwood striker took full advantage calmly slotting the ball low into the right hand corner. The ref wasn't quite finished with intervening in the game as he showed an unfortunate Elmwood player a straight red for instinctively throwing up his hands to stop a wayward CSSC clearance from flying far out of bounds. But the extra man didn't tell. CSSC was feeling a bit hard done by as two quality Chernomas strikes were cancelled out by two debatable referee decisions. Off to the lottery that is penalties.
The less said the better. Stef and Eli held their nerve to slot home but three other CSSC players (who will remain nameless because despite the shame that is rightly associated with missing penalties, at least they stepped up to take them) could not convert, a ratio that is unlikely to win any shootout and this was no exception. CSSC is starting to look like Winnipeg's lower division version of England. Penalties appear to be a weakness, although our keeper doesn't wear quite such a hideous jersey. The only silver lining to the loss was that it inspired a truly memorable Nic Zif rant at the post game wake. The few remaining non-CSSC patrons at The Orbit Room at 2 am on a Friday must have really been wondering about just what injustice on a global scale had inspired such a profanity laced outpouring of emotion. To be fair to Nic, he only said what we were all thinking.
Man of the Match: Two goal hero Greg Chernomas lived up to his pre-signing hype with two fine strikes and a battling display that saw him fight through leg cramps (although the CSSC trainer did wonder why on earth a strapping youngster like that should have any fitness issues).