Wait, we're playing again?

Photo Credit: Tormenta FC

I going to apologize in advance, which is a weird thing to say about a written post that I can edit and write it exactly as I want it before anyone sees it. 

Nevertheless, I'm going to apologize now as this will be a shorter post leading up to Tormenta's Second Round US Open Cup match tonight. And to make matters worse (well, maybe better depending on your thoughts on my writing), I'm going to miss tonight's game.

Longtime readers (Editor: Luke, this is only the second year you've written this blog. At best someone has been reading this for 15 months. I'm not sure you have longtime readers. Are you sure you want to leave this in?)

Fine, readers from last year will recall that I missed every Tormenta Open Cup match because I decided to be a supportive parent and go to my oldest's soccer games or, in one case when he didn't have a game, was at the ER with him. Well, I lucked out with Tormenta's first Open Cup game as Statesboro High was off that night. Not so this time as they play across town from Tormenta at the same time as the Open Cup. On the plus side, my son finished the concussion protocol Monday and is cleared to play. He's already given me his blessing to stream the Tormenta game on my phone as I watch his game.

About that game. Statesboro High is coming off a tough loss (Editor: Luke, come on now.) Sorry, sorry. Tormenta is coming off a 3-1 loss to Omaha in which Tormenta struggled to create chances and finished the night with just 0.16 expected goals. 

"We didn't move the ball quite well enough," Tormenta Manager Ian Cameron said following that match. "We didn't arrive and put them under pressure."

Once Tormenta fell behind, he said his players started deviating from the game plan and tried to do too much.

"Goals change games and once the goal goes in, then you start changing habits a little bit. Attackers start taking too many touches and then it's a bit of a snowball effect," Cameron said. 

Regardless of the loss, Tormenta knew there was a quick turnaround to tonight's match, something Cameron, Gabriel Cabral and Oscar Jiminez all agreed was good for the team.

"Everything starts in (the locker room) right now," Cameron said Saturday night. "Emotionally you flush it out tonight. That'll still linger tomorrow. The boys will feel it tomorrow. I'll feel it tomorrow. There will be a frustration. There'll be a dampness, but through that, you arrive into Monday having washed it out of your system."

"You just focus on what's in front of you and I'm pretty sure we've got eh right guys to steer us in the right direction and come Tuesday night we'll be ready to go again," he said.

"Honestly, it's a benefit," Jiminez said of playing Tuesday. "You can lull all week if the game's next Saturday, but since it's so quick, people have to snap into it and get ready for it."

Cabral said it would be important to recover and be prepared for Tuesday.

"Rest. Sleep. Eat. Hydrate. And just be ready for Tuesday,*" he said. "It's more about getting everyone back in and touches on the ball on the day that we have to train and being ready for Tuesday. We love the Open Cup and we definitely want to win the game on Tuesday night."

That game is against FORO FC out of Dallas. They upset USL1 side Texoma 2-1 in the first round, with Brayan Padilla scoring both goals, including the game winner in the 100th minute as Foro FC notched a win over a professional team for the second year in a row. Last year they defeated Austin FC II of MLS NextPro in a penalty shootout.

I'd like to tell you more about them, but it's been a hectic Sunday and Monday and I haven't had the time to look into them. They're obviously good to have not only qualified for the Open Cup, but getting wins in back to back years. 

News and Notes:

My favorite German and yours, ShadowWulf has a wonderful podcast covering Portland Hearts of Pine. Give it a listen if you have a chance. (I can't imagine trying to cover Tormenta from Germany, so, you know, that's some dedication.)

The good folks at Protagonist Soccer have their second round US Open Cup Preview. 

Despite the fact they didn't bring up that he is the reigning Most Handsome Manager in USL1, the crew at Walkin' 90 had an otherwise excellent interview with Chattanooga Manager Scott Mackenzie.

The best story of the weekend happened in Greenville as they helped a seven-year old achieve his dream of being a professional soccer player. 

John Morrissey's Back Four is always a must read to stay up with teams around the league, this week featuring breakdowns of Chattanooga, Spokane and Westchester, and some USL Championship stuff in there as well.

*Oddly enough, that was my plan to get ready for my boring desk job.