Zizumbo’s late brace rallies Morton past AT
Mustangs earn share of 8th-straight league title
By Matt Le Cren
BERWYN – Giovanni Alvarez was unceremoniously knocked to the ground just outside the Addison Trail penalty box.
The Morton sophomore didn’t appreciate the hard foul, which earned an Addison Trail defender a yellow card, but he knew his teammates would inflict a different kind of pain on the Blazers.
The only question would be which one would deliver the payback.
Morton’s three most talented offensive players – senior Edwin Zizumbo and juniors Cristian Perez and Jesus Perez – gathered near the ball deciding who would take the resulting 22-yard free kick.
In the end, they decided Zizumbo would take it.
“He’s been our key on free kicks,” Morton coach Jim Bageanis said of Zizumbo. “Cristian is just as dangerous, but I let them work it out, and they figure it out who’s taking the kick.
“I’m not going to screw something up that’s been successful, so I stay out it.”
Bageanis was rewarded for his hands-off approach when Zizumbo ripped a right-footed blast into the upper left corner of the net with 6:58 remaining in the second half.
That goal proved to be the difference as the host Mustangs, ranked second in the Chciagoland Soccer Top 25, rallied for a 2-1 victory to clinch at least a share of their eighth-consecutive West Suburban Conference Gold Division championship.
It was another heartbreaking defeat for Addison Trail, which lost to Morton 2-1 for the second-straight year after holding a lead in the second half.
“In our heads, we thought we had it,” Addison Trail forward Anthony Hernandez said. “Unfortunately, they came out strong in the last 12 minutes.
“There was 12 minutes left, and we had a 1-0 lead. They just came in harder in the last 12 minutes.”
Indeed, the Mustangs (13-2-2, 5-0) found a way to win as they often do. This time it was Zizumbo who saved the day, scoring twice within a four-minute span to rally his team to its 49th-straight Gold victory.
“We just didn’t want to lose our seven-year streak,” said Zizumbo, who has a team-leading 21 goals. “We just kept saying, ‘We’re making history; we’re making history’ and we proved them wrong.”
But it was far from easy. The Blazers (11-4-2, 4-1) played outstanding defense, allowing only one dangerous chance inside the 18 over the first 68 minutes. Goalkeeper Ernesto Padua made a great kick save on an open shot from 15 yards with 15:35 left in the first half, the first of his five saves.
Morton’s defense was staunch as well. The Blazers were outshot 5-0 in the first half, but broke through at the 37:56 mark of the second half on a rebound goal from Hernandez.
A long free kick from far out on the right wing went into the box to Leo Acosta, who headed the ball high off the right post. Hernandez got to the rebound inside the six and two whacks at the ball finally produced a goal.
“It was really exciting,” Hernandez said. “We ran our play perfectly. Leo headed it, and I was just in the right spot.”
The Blazers appeared to be in the right spot to end Morton’s streak as time dwindled, but Morton stayed composed.
“We just didn’t give up,” Alvarez said. “We always don’t give up. We play until the whistle blows.”
Sure enough, the Mustangs got the equalizer with 11:15 left. Alvarez got free on the left wing and crossed in front to Zizumbo, whose leaping header found its way under the crossbar.
“I saw Gio with the ball, and I called to him,” Zizumbo said. “He centered it. The ball was a little bit too high, but I got to it.”
Alvarez knows who to get the ball to in those situations.
“I took a couple dribbles, then saw our captain,” Alvarez said. “(Zizumbo) is one of our goal scorers, and I just knew to look for him.
“He’s been the main player this season. (With) Cristian in the middle and Jesus up top, we just know he’s the main one to get the ball to. He knows how to put it in.”
That’s why Alvarez was confident Zizumbo would come through on the free kick.
“We’ve been practicing that always in practice, and I knew it was Z’s time to shine,” Alvarez said.
Zizumbo knew it, too, although he said he didn’t make up his mind where to shoot until a split second before he struck the ball.
“At first I saw the goalie in the middle,” Zizumbo said. “I’m like, I don’t know where to put it.
“But I just called it far post -- just pick (a spot) and place it.”
With that, the Mustangs remained in their familiar place atop the Gold standings.
“In the typical Morton way,” Addison Trail coach Ryan Dini said. “We played them straight up.
“We still haven’t played our best game. We gave it a heckuva effort today, and there was a reason why they haven’t been beaten in conference in a long time.”
But all streaks end eventually, and Dini feels the Blazers have what it takes to eventually halt Morton’s amazing run.
“We’re close,” Dini said. “The last two years we’re right there. We’re going to have a group that’s going to do it.”
This year’s team didn’t do it, but the Blazers still have a faint hope of getting a piece of the Gold title. However, Leyden is the key. The third place Eagles would need to beat Morton on Tuesday, then Addison Trail would need to beat Leyden on Thursday. That would leave the Mustangs and Blazers tied with 5-1 records.
But Leyden (10-6-1, 3-1) is hot right now and also could grab a share of the title with Morton if it wins both of those games.
“A lot can still happen in conference,” Dini said. “Leyden is on an eight-game winning streak so you never know.”
But the Mustangs remain kings of the conference for now despite the Blazers’ best efforts.
“We know we’re a good team,” Dini said. “We’ve beaten some good teams. Tonight wasn’t our night.
“You’ve got to give (the Mustangs) credit. They found a way.”
Starting lineups
Addison Trail
GK Ernesto Padua
D Jose Vega
D Angel Gomez
D Martin Murillo
D Ray Fischer
M Leo Acosta
M Uriel Rojo
M Pablo Duran
M Eric Garcia
F Anthony Hernandez
F Aaron Sanchez
Morton
GK Andres Calderon
D Juan Hernandez
D Saul Juarez
D Juan Ramirez
M Adrian Salto
M Uriel Sotelo
M Julian Vargas
M Jesus Perez
M Cristian Perez
F Edwin Zizumbo
F Giovanni Alvarez
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Edwin Zizumbo, sr., M, Morton
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Addison Trail – Anthony Hernandez 37:56
Morton – Edwin Zizumbo (Giovanni Alvarez) 11:15
Morton – Zizumbo 6:58
Mustangs earn share of 8th-straight league title
By Matt Le Cren
BERWYN – Giovanni Alvarez was unceremoniously knocked to the ground just outside the Addison Trail penalty box.
The Morton sophomore didn’t appreciate the hard foul, which earned an Addison Trail defender a yellow card, but he knew his teammates would inflict a different kind of pain on the Blazers.
The only question would be which one would deliver the payback.
Morton’s three most talented offensive players – senior Edwin Zizumbo and juniors Cristian Perez and Jesus Perez – gathered near the ball deciding who would take the resulting 22-yard free kick.
In the end, they decided Zizumbo would take it.
“He’s been our key on free kicks,” Morton coach Jim Bageanis said of Zizumbo. “Cristian is just as dangerous, but I let them work it out, and they figure it out who’s taking the kick.
“I’m not going to screw something up that’s been successful, so I stay out it.”
Bageanis was rewarded for his hands-off approach when Zizumbo ripped a right-footed blast into the upper left corner of the net with 6:58 remaining in the second half.
That goal proved to be the difference as the host Mustangs, ranked second in the Chciagoland Soccer Top 25, rallied for a 2-1 victory to clinch at least a share of their eighth-consecutive West Suburban Conference Gold Division championship.
It was another heartbreaking defeat for Addison Trail, which lost to Morton 2-1 for the second-straight year after holding a lead in the second half.
“In our heads, we thought we had it,” Addison Trail forward Anthony Hernandez said. “Unfortunately, they came out strong in the last 12 minutes.
“There was 12 minutes left, and we had a 1-0 lead. They just came in harder in the last 12 minutes.”
Indeed, the Mustangs (13-2-2, 5-0) found a way to win as they often do. This time it was Zizumbo who saved the day, scoring twice within a four-minute span to rally his team to its 49th-straight Gold victory.
“We just didn’t want to lose our seven-year streak,” said Zizumbo, who has a team-leading 21 goals. “We just kept saying, ‘We’re making history; we’re making history’ and we proved them wrong.”
But it was far from easy. The Blazers (11-4-2, 4-1) played outstanding defense, allowing only one dangerous chance inside the 18 over the first 68 minutes. Goalkeeper Ernesto Padua made a great kick save on an open shot from 15 yards with 15:35 left in the first half, the first of his five saves.
Morton’s defense was staunch as well. The Blazers were outshot 5-0 in the first half, but broke through at the 37:56 mark of the second half on a rebound goal from Hernandez.
A long free kick from far out on the right wing went into the box to Leo Acosta, who headed the ball high off the right post. Hernandez got to the rebound inside the six and two whacks at the ball finally produced a goal.
“It was really exciting,” Hernandez said. “We ran our play perfectly. Leo headed it, and I was just in the right spot.”
The Blazers appeared to be in the right spot to end Morton’s streak as time dwindled, but Morton stayed composed.
“We just didn’t give up,” Alvarez said. “We always don’t give up. We play until the whistle blows.”
Sure enough, the Mustangs got the equalizer with 11:15 left. Alvarez got free on the left wing and crossed in front to Zizumbo, whose leaping header found its way under the crossbar.
“I saw Gio with the ball, and I called to him,” Zizumbo said. “He centered it. The ball was a little bit too high, but I got to it.”
Alvarez knows who to get the ball to in those situations.
“I took a couple dribbles, then saw our captain,” Alvarez said. “(Zizumbo) is one of our goal scorers, and I just knew to look for him.
“He’s been the main player this season. (With) Cristian in the middle and Jesus up top, we just know he’s the main one to get the ball to. He knows how to put it in.”
That’s why Alvarez was confident Zizumbo would come through on the free kick.
“We’ve been practicing that always in practice, and I knew it was Z’s time to shine,” Alvarez said.
Zizumbo knew it, too, although he said he didn’t make up his mind where to shoot until a split second before he struck the ball.
“At first I saw the goalie in the middle,” Zizumbo said. “I’m like, I don’t know where to put it.
“But I just called it far post -- just pick (a spot) and place it.”
With that, the Mustangs remained in their familiar place atop the Gold standings.
“In the typical Morton way,” Addison Trail coach Ryan Dini said. “We played them straight up.
“We still haven’t played our best game. We gave it a heckuva effort today, and there was a reason why they haven’t been beaten in conference in a long time.”
But all streaks end eventually, and Dini feels the Blazers have what it takes to eventually halt Morton’s amazing run.
“We’re close,” Dini said. “The last two years we’re right there. We’re going to have a group that’s going to do it.”
This year’s team didn’t do it, but the Blazers still have a faint hope of getting a piece of the Gold title. However, Leyden is the key. The third place Eagles would need to beat Morton on Tuesday, then Addison Trail would need to beat Leyden on Thursday. That would leave the Mustangs and Blazers tied with 5-1 records.
But Leyden (10-6-1, 3-1) is hot right now and also could grab a share of the title with Morton if it wins both of those games.
“A lot can still happen in conference,” Dini said. “Leyden is on an eight-game winning streak so you never know.”
But the Mustangs remain kings of the conference for now despite the Blazers’ best efforts.
“We know we’re a good team,” Dini said. “We’ve beaten some good teams. Tonight wasn’t our night.
“You’ve got to give (the Mustangs) credit. They found a way.”
Starting lineups
Addison Trail
GK Ernesto Padua
D Jose Vega
D Angel Gomez
D Martin Murillo
D Ray Fischer
M Leo Acosta
M Uriel Rojo
M Pablo Duran
M Eric Garcia
F Anthony Hernandez
F Aaron Sanchez
Morton
GK Andres Calderon
D Juan Hernandez
D Saul Juarez
D Juan Ramirez
M Adrian Salto
M Uriel Sotelo
M Julian Vargas
M Jesus Perez
M Cristian Perez
F Edwin Zizumbo
F Giovanni Alvarez
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Edwin Zizumbo, sr., M, Morton
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Addison Trail – Anthony Hernandez 37:56
Morton – Edwin Zizumbo (Giovanni Alvarez) 11:15
Morton – Zizumbo 6:58