JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The New England Revolution Under-17 squad played SAFA School of Excellence (South Africa) to a back-and-forth 3-3 draw in its second game of the 2012 Future Champions Gauteng tournament on Tuesday afternoon.
New England struck first in the fourth minute, sparked by Danny Apajee’s (Cranston, R.I.) down the right flank. The ball went out for an attacking corner kick from the right, which Christian Sady (North Andover, Mass.) played short and eventually served into the box for Gabe Gissie’s (Worcester, Mass.) finish. Aubrey Modiba answered for School of Excellence only a minute later, however, leveling the score at 1-1.
The game took on a frantic feel following the second goal, with each side generating its share of chances. Goal-scorer Gissie was then ejected in the 16th minute, leaving the Revs to play with only 10 men. Making the most of the opportunity, School of Excellence’s Tshepo Mashigo scored one minute later.
Apajee looked to equalize in the 20th minute, using his speed and footwork to navigate through traffic and fire a shot just wide of the far post. School of Excellence then took control of the game for a spell, seeming to spend more time in their attacking third. But the Revs earned a free kick just outside the box in the 30th minute, which Guy Kabala (Manchester, N.H.) buried off a short lay-off pass. With a 2-2 score line going into the break, tempers flared and a School of Excellence ejection nullified their man advantage.
The second half continued with both teams battling for the go-ahead goal. As the game approached its final two minutes, Declan McCabe (Weston, Mass.) pushed the ball down the right channel to Amadu Kunateh (Salem, Mass.). When the School of Excellence goalkeeper came out to defend, Kunateh directed his shot past him, into the empty net. Unable to see it through to the final whistle, however, the Revs conceded a 60th-minute goal to come away with the draw.
The Under-17s, now 0-1-1 in the tournament, play their third and final group game on Wednesday, March 28, against K-Stars (Zambia) – who hold a 1-1-0 record – at 4 a.m. ET.
2012 Future Champions Gauteng
New England Revolution U17s vs. School of Excellence SAFA U17s
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 – Soweto, South Africa (Nike Football Training Center)
Revolution 3, School of Excellence 3
Scoring Summary:
NE – Gabe Gissie (Christian Sady) 4
SE – Aubrey Modiba 5
SE – Tshepo Mashigo 17
NE – Guy Kabala (unassisted) 30
NE – Amadu Kunateh (Declan McCabe) 59
SE – Kabelo Moshane 60
New England Revolution: Matthew Mozynski (GK), Erik Martel, Will Szostkiewicz, Matthew Cooper, Christian Sady, Kevin Herrera (Amadu Kunateh 31), Guy Kabala (Luke Albertini 57), Danny Apajee (Ryan Kingsley 48), Zach Herivaux (Declan McCabe 40), Gabe Gissie, Matthew Nyeayea (Casey Schehl 53)
Unused substitutes: David Hepp (GK), Greg Forgue
Misconduct Summary:
NE – Gabe Gissie (caution) 16
NE – Gabe (caution, subsequent ejection) 16
SE – Kgosi Sejosingoe (caution) 29
SE – Aubrey Modiba (ejection) 30
NE – Guy Kabala (caution) 31
