Mission Viejo’s Kaan Yorulmaz (4) and Anaheim’s Brayan Justo (26) collide with Mission Viejo goal keeper Nick Daniel during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By Lou Ponsi | Correspondent / Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
ANAHEIM — A goal on a penalty kick in the opening minutes gave Anaheim’s boys soccer team an early advantage in its first-round game against Mission Viejo in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs on Thursday at Anaheim High School.
Anaheim went on to score two more goals, including one in the final minutes that wound up being critical, and it came away with a 3-2 victory over the Diablos.
Anaheim celebrates a goal against Mission Viejo during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Kaan Yourlmaz (4) David Ortiz (9) battle for the ball during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Edward Nehmbard (11) and Anaheim’s Brayan Justo (26) battle for the ball during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim’s Christian Carcamo (8) and Mission Viejo’s Johan Enriquez (44) battle for the ball during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim’s Alecxander Olivo (23) and Jonathan Rodriguez (11) celebrate Olivo’s goal against Mission Viejo during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Kaan Yorulmaz (4) and Anaheim’s Brayan Justo (26) collide with Mission Viejo goal keeper Nick Daniel during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim’s Eric Salcido (12) and Mission Viejo’s Aaron Sanchez (9) battle for the ball during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim celebrates a goal against Mission Viejo during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Josh Lezama (10) celebrates a goal against Anaheim during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Jordan Bueno (7), left, and Connor Juric (18) control the ball against Anaheim’s Jonathan Rodriguez (11) during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim’s Alecxander Olivo (23) protects their goal against Mission Viejo’s Edward Nehmbard (11) and Pierce Bennett (8) during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim’s Aaron Rojas (17) and Mission Viejo’s Brayden Joins (5) battle for the ball during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim’s Aaron Rojas (17) tries to keep the play in play against Mission Viejo’s David Ortiz (9) during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Pierce Bennett (8) and Anaheim’s Aaron Rojas (17) battle for the ball during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim’s Alecxander Olivo (23) tries to control the ball against Mission Viejo’s Gabe London (2) during their first round CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoff game in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Anaheim defeated Mission Viejo, 3 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Colonists (11-4), who are ranked No. 10 in Division 1, will take on No.8 Downey in a second-round game on Saturday at Anaheim High.
“I think that what worked for us was sticking to our system,” Anaheim coach Uriel Jurado said. “We are a very technical team, and so we were going to muscle that through the entire game, trying to play the ball to the feet and the keep the ball going forward.”
Anaheim kept the ball on the ground as much as possible and created several scoring opportunities by running the ball to the end line and then making cross passes to players as they cut toward the goal.
“One of the things we said was that we were going to live by it or die by it because I feel that is our strength,” Jurado said, “getting the ball the width of the field and getting numbers in the in the box and getting opportunities to finish.”
About five minutes into the game, Erik Salcido was fouled inside the box and was given a penalty kick.
The senior defender drilled the ball into the right side of the goal to give Anaheim a 1-0 lead.
Minutes later, Howard Moore sent a cross pass to Josh Lezama, who scored on a header to tie the score for the Diablos (3-6-1).
The Colonists took a 2-1 lead later in the half when Alecxander Olivo maneuvered through defenders inside the box, got free and took an open shot into the center of the goal.
The score stayed 2-1 through most of the second half before David Ortiz handled a rebound off his own missed shot and sent the ball back into the net to give the Colonists a 3-1 lead with about eight minutes remaining.
Ortiz’s goal wound up being the game winner because minutes after his goal, Jordan Bueno scored for the Diablos to make it a one-goal game.
Anaheim was able to keep the ball on the Diablos’ side of the field until time expired.
“I thought the game was scrappy,” Mission Viejo coach Roger Castle said. “I thought the PK (penalty kick) swung the first half. I thought that was another controversial call. I hate to say we lost the game because of poor refereeing, but it was there for all to see.”
