The De Anza College men’s soccer team achieved a victory against the Skyline College at the home field on November 5th, 3-0.

In every sports game, there are two main ways to earn a victory: one is a dominant performance, and another is grabbing chances through opponent’s mistakes. Dons mainly used the second way for a win.

First 40 minutes in the first half was an engagement in reconnaissance. Both teams had a fierce struggle in midfield for a longer ball possession. The De Anza Dons’ winning strategy was using side attack from a direct pass from their midfield. The side attackers didn’t just cross the ball to the mid-goal. Rather, they dribbled up into the arc circle of Skyline’s side.

The first goal made in 41 minutes. No.7 Roberto Garcia, Dons forward, received a pass from a midfield at the penalty area, and he shot with a tripping motion. The ball was saved by Skyline’s goalkeeper Kevin Artiga, but No,19 Tariq Adam, De Anza midfielder/forward, got a rebounded ball, and he easily scored.

The Dons only needed two more minutes to obtain an extra goal. In 43 minutes in the first half, Adam penetrated the Skyline’s left side of penalty area. Skyline’s goalkeeper ran out of the goal to narrow the shooting angle, but he failed to slow down the speed. Adam got a foul in the penalty area. In the penalty kick situation, Jairo Magana, midfielder/free-kicker of De Anza College, scored. Dons led two goals in the first half.

In the second half, The Dons didn’t lost their momentum for a victory. In contrast, Skyline College players tended to hurry for their first goal. They didn’t use their midfielders, but their offense patterns became too simple. Direct passes from defenders to forwards is the main strategy of Skyline. However, The Dons used their hurried minds effectively. De Anza Dons started the press from the forward line, and Skyline defenders made mistakes.

52 minutes in the second half, Skyline College’s defender made a mistake in trapping a  ball, and Adam intercepted the ball. He dribbled past the goalkeeper and scored a goal. After the goal, Dons well managed rest of the game time without losing a point.

With the referee’s final whistle, The De Anza Dons made four consecutive victories in Coast Conference.

Dons No.19 Tariq Adam dribbled past the goalkeeper and scored a goal. (Suneui Kim)