AYSO Florida State Cup Games

The foundation of what was to eventually become FUTSOC USA ENIGMA, was born from a most successful season in the nationally acclaimed AYSO league, which is the largest youth soccer organization in the world, and has produced many talented players who have played in the U.S. and European professional leagues.

Playing in the famed Region 644, out of Weston, Florida, the team went undefeated through the regular and regional post season (15-0-0), and qualified for the AYSO Florida State Cup finals, played at Weston Regional Park in Weston. Teams from the entire state, along with representatives from the Caribbean regions, congregated in a festival of youth soccer of very high level quality. After going unbeaten in first round play (3-0) in which 7 goals were scored and none allowed, our team met a very strong Palm Beach (which had also won all three of its first round matches and had allowed no goals either) in a semi-final match, which ended in a 3-0 victory for our squad. The goals were scored by strikers Daniel Sanchez who had two tally’s and Daniel Lovera who had the third goal along with two assists.

This set up a final which was expected to be very difficult against a Caribbean team from the U.S. Virgin Islands, which had stormed into the finals with 17 goals scored and 3 allowed in 4 matches. The match started 1-0 in their favor on a fantastic breakaway which left the team wondering what had happened so early in the match. Steadily, our team tied the score on a penalty kick from our specialist Francisco Tamayo who put it low and hard to the side net, and then we added three more to take a 4-1 halftime lead on goals by midfielder Juan Hernandez, and forwards Daniel Lovera and Daniel Sanchez.

In the second half, the pressure became greater for the Caribbean squad, as minutes from the start, the fifth and sixth goals were added by super striker Daniel Lovera. This seemed to deflate any hopes the opponent had of making a comeback and flood gates opened, as the 7th and 8th goals occurred within a span of 15 minutes (on another goal by Daniel Sanchez and one from Santiago Jaramillo). The final score was 8-1 and the AYSO State Cup championship was ours for the first time in the regions history for this age group. The team allowed only one goal and only eight shots on goal, and they outscored the opponents 28-1 (including four shutouts), during the entire tournament.

Apart from the brilliant efforts of those aforementioned players, outstanding effort were also displayed by defensive players Mauricio Longton, Pablo Duque, Nick Riggio, and Santiago Jaramillo on defense. Julian Mendez and Julian Londono were superb on the defensive side as well. In the midfield, which controlled and defined the game tempo throughout the event, Sebastian Rodriguez, Ignacio Pelaez and Sebastian Acosta were simply brilliant. In the goal, Ryan “Scooby” Smith was superb…only one goal allowed!!

The team will now embark on a long run of sanctioned tournaments against top=flight competition through out the U.S.. The headcoach is Jose Tamayo, the Assistant Coach Alvaro Rodriguez, and the Team Manager is Rich Riggio.

Palm Harbor Spring Classic

In what was our first tournament playing as FUTSOC USA ENIGMA, the team started its storied history, with a convincing domination of every opponent in attendance, winning the final of the event in an exciting night game atmosphere, by a score of 5-0, which inspired tremendous reviews and accolades from the press, spectators, and the opponents coaches and players in attendance. The first round play consisted of 5-0, 3-0 and 4-0 victories against teams from all over Florida, with a semi- final victory of 4-0, and then the final against a solid central Florida team, which simply could not match our team speed and technical skill level. The final tally showed 21 goals for and 0 against for the five games.

Palm Bay Spring Challenge

Hoping to follow in the steps of the great success achieved to date, we traveled to Melbourne, Florida to attend the Palm Bay Spring Challenge, an event with a markedly superior level of teams. Group play saw us show up for the opening match unprepared and with only 12 players in 98 degree weather, losing 4-0 to a formidable Hollywood Wildcats team. After regrouping, and adding another recently arriving player, we met a strong Treasure Coast team which had won its opening match in convincing form, and we won by a 6-2 thrashing of the overwhelmed team, on goals by Daniel Lovera (3 goals) and Daniel Sanchez ( 3 goals). Moving on to game three, we went up against our city rival the Weston Fury, opening the score with a fine combination of plays to take a 1-0 lead at halftime. After a very strong second half performance by the opponent, they tied the match, with 15 minutes remaining. Back and forth, both teams had many opportunities thwarted by excellent goal keeping and solid play on all lines, but the winner cam on a breakaway by Daniel Lovera on a superb pass from fellow striker Daniel Sanchez, which cemented the win by a final of 2-1. This victory gave us passage to the final, where we were to meet the same Hollywood team which earlier had thrashed us.

In the final match, the fourth game in scorching heat and humidity with a minimal squad of players, we met the strong Hollywood team once again. The game was a classic match which kept every one on edge after an exchange of first half goals for both squads. Coming out in the second half, the team began to seriously feel the effects of so many matches during only two days and a reduced player pool. Then Hollywood Wildcats, on a brilliantly conceived set play to a header, took the lead 2-1 with 15 minutes remaining. We battled and made every attempt to tie the score but the opponent’s keeper would continually deny us. Then, in what seemed like the potential tying goal, on a clean breakaway one on one with the keeper, we missed our golden chance, and our hopes of another championship diminished. We lost to a truly excellent South Florida team which itself was beginning to make a great name for itself, and ended runner’s up / finalists in this most worthy event.

Disney Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament

Our next trip was to Orlando, Florida, and the chance to play at the world renowned Disney Wide World of Sports complex. This was a dream event for our young club, and the competition awaiting us, was still at another level all together. However, we were prepared for the challenge and looked forward to showing our game to others as well.

We opened with a series of matches against some decidedly solid teams from around the U.S. - Ohio, New York and California. In group play, we defeated all three opponents by a combined score of 13-2, which set up a match against a team that was ravaging its competition by 8, 8 and 11 goals margins. This was the junior U.S. based team for the Pumas team from Chula Vista professional Mexican League team, and they were most decided in their intent – to win the event. In what can only be described as a formatting error by the tournament, the two best teams met in a semi-final match which will long be remembered for its action and non-stop play. After sixteen offside calls, one goal called back, and the pressure from what was until the moment, the very best team we had ever played against, the whistle blew with a struggled 3-2 victory by the fine opponent.

2005. It was a match for all ages, and it served a good purpose as it grounded a few swelled heads!! Nevertheless, we learned from the great match, and identified needs and weaknesses on the team which were later to be addressed. The opponent eventually won the championship, defeating a South Florida team by an 8-0 margin.