Bridges 1 Elfsborg Reserves 2

Elfsborg, Sweden – After a long flight and few days to adapt, Bridges F.C. took the field against a strong Elfsborg FF Reserves team.  Situated in Boras Stad (stadium) the atmosphere was perfect for a 16:00 start.  It was Bridges who would come out early and often getting on the board in only the second minute.  The host Elfsborg looked to play a ball back into their central back in order to organize an attack going forward.  Bridges striker Hassan Minter, intercepted the pass and found himself alone against the keeper.  The California native then slotted an outside of the foot strike into the lower left corner of the net placing Bridges on top 1-0.  “I was able to anticipate the through ball and was fortunate to find it at my feet.  After that, the hardest part is concentrating on the finish and fortunately I was able to put it away” noted Minter on the goal.

Things continued to show well for the Americans, as chances in the 5^th and 7^th minutes were fortunate for the home side to not find themselves down three.  A brilliant through ball found Desmond Tachie who struck for the lower corner and was turned away at the last second by the Elfsborg netminder.  Minutes later, Bridges built from the back finding Drew DeGurian going forward with the ball.  The holding midfielder pushed the ball ahead and had a strike glance the right side of the cross bar just over the target.

Over the next 35 minutes, play evened as both teams shared possession with neither side offering many dangerous chances.  The final minutes of the half saw Elfsborg find both their stride and their chances.  In the 41^st minute, Elfsborg’s patient play in the final third progressed to several well worked passes on the top of the box.  They eventually found a striker wide open from sixteen yards out.  Keeper Brian Levey made a diving save to his right to keep the lead for Bridges.  Only minutes later, Levey was put to the test again as an errant free kick floated beyond both teams and was struck on frame from the back post.  Levey, in great position was there to make the save for the visitors.

The second half found a renewed Elfsborg side looking to create more dangerous opportunities. In the 52^nd minute, the same Swedish side striker found himself with a ball at his feet amongst several members of both teams after a scramble in the Bridges box.  The Swede then struck the ball past keeper Nemanja Kostic, knotting the score at 1-1.  Elfsborg continued to push, looking for a game winner.  Unfortunately for Bridges, it came in the 72^nd minute off an inability to completely clear the defensive zone.  After several attempts, an Elfsborg midfielder found himself with the ball and carefully placed the ball into the back of the net.

Down 2-1, Bridges looked to equalize, pushing the ball ahead for the final 20 minutes.  Strong defense by the home side gave little opportunity for the guests until injury time.  In the 92^nd minute, midfielder Danny Lopez played an excellent ball into striker Desmomd Tachie.  The Canadian striker went on the break with Leslie Osei striking for top corner from about 8 yards out.  The Elfsborg keeper pushed the ball over the bar maintaining the lead for the home side.  Minutes later the final whistle blew. Elfsborg prevailing, 2-1.  Bridges will return to action on Saturday, July 11, against Danish 1^st Division side Hvidovre.  Kick off is set for 15:00.