In a slow paced game Yukoninfo.com overcame Pepsi 6-4 to progress to the semifinal stage of the Whitehorse Rapids over 35’s soccer playoffs.

Both teams were struggling to fill their benches, so it was no wonder the game was played at a snail’s pace. Yukoninfo.com always held sway during the game, maintaining a two goal advantage most of the time.

Yukoninfo.com were able to control the possession, and therefore the game, scoring at regular intervals. Will Chetcuti (two goals) was his normal energetic self, proving his worth at both ends of the pitch. Danny Macdonald, spearheading the attack, was finding pockets of space to score his two goals, while the ever eager Michael Zuccarini picked up a brace.

Pepsi have suffered like no other team for injuries, their roster was decimated but they tried valiently to get a toe hold in the game.

Mark O Brien, Pat Zuccarini, an own goal and Nathan Cross got the goals for Pepsi.

Maguire leads his team
to the semi’s

Keith Maguire doesn’t score many goals but when he does they are normally special. With the last semifinal spot up for grabs, Maguire scored a highly important goal that set Driving Force on the way to a 3-1 win over Yukon Brewing.

This game was played like a proper playoff game, sometimes brilliant, sometimes chippy, sometimes messy, but always entertaining.

Driving Force looked assured and confident, and were able to pass the ball easily around the Yukon Brewing team to create chances, while the Brew were playing a more patient game looking for the opportunity to score.

The minutes of the clock seemed to be flying by, as the Force slowly got their noses in front, and then played with an organised defence to neutralise the Brewing threat. Greg Grady and Craig Caldwell both got goals to take them over the line, with David Rayo getting the Yukon Brewing goal.

MacPhail inspires the
greatest comeback

In the first semifinal of the over 35’s soccer playoff we saw Yukoninfo.com take on Klondike Business Solutions and what a game it was.

Yukoninfo.com raced into an early lead as they started with intent. Danny Macdonald and Graham White orchestrated the play, which had KBS chasing shadows. When they went 3-0 up just after half time, the writing was on the wall for KBS.

The teams then shared a goal apiece leaving the boys in blue a mountain to climb with only 12 minutes left. However, with Jim Brown’s half time dressing down of the team still ringing in his ears, universal boss John MacPhail decided to take the bull by the horns, he crept further up the field, asking questions of the Yukon Info midfield.

KBS pulled another back, and when Macphail let fly with a thunderbolt from the gods that nestled in the back of the net, the cat was amonst the pigeons.

Derek Krawchuk in the Info net, who had been excellent all morning, was now faced with a rampant KBS attack. The onslaught was constant and with the Info players visably tiring, KBS scored the two goals needed to take them to the final, and break the hearts of the Yukoninfo players.

Andy Todd picked up three goals for KBS, while Matthias Hartmann and Mark Sebek got a goal each. For Yukoninfo. Macdonald got two, and Chris Stacey and Graham White a goal apiece.

Swan holds his nerve to take
Air North through

Nothing could separate Air North Rangers and and Driving Force in the second semifinal of the morning. The game was a magnificent battle that pitted two teams with different styles against each other.

Driving Force’s game is based on flowing slick passing and movement, while Air North uses a combination of power and hard work to win games, and so it proved in this game.

Some of Driving Force’s play was breathtaking, moving the ball effortlessly from defence to attack, with Mark Chandler and Greg Grady linking up well.

Air North’s Ciaran Connolly typifies the work ethic, and Marcello Gortari signifies the power. The game tilted from one side to the other and as a spectator it was always too close to call, ending at full time at 3-3. Chandler picked up the three Driving Force goals, and Connolly, Gortari and Huy Nguyen scored for Air North.

Extra time was played and again nothing could split the teams, so the game headed into sudden death penalties, with the sixth pairing going head-to-head, knowing a miss now would see their side exit the competition.

The pressure was massive but Creed ‘the Hunter’ Swan stepped up and slotted his shot home, the whole Driving Force season rested with Hector Land who unfortunetley pushed his effort wide and which sent Air North to the final.

- submitted by ANDY TODD