Tormenta dominates AV Alta

So over on TikTok there's apparently a rumor going around that the world is supposed to end today (or maybe tomorrow, it's so hard to keep track and no one ever explains how time zones work with the whole rapture thing) and, as such, I feel it only fitting that I spend what could be my last few hours of early existence recapping a soccer game from Saturday night. 

Priorities, man. We'll worry about what happens post-rapture on later this week, assuming we're all still here. For now, we need to talk about what happened out in California in the late hours of Saturday in to Sunday morning, east coast time.

After a scoreless first half, Yaniv Bazini scored two second half goals and Handwalla Bwana converted a penalty kick to give Tormenta a 3-0 win and move South Georgia into playoff position with their fourth straight win. It was Bazini's second brace in as many games against Alta and I admire the restraint of all of the Tormenta fans for not updating the AV Alta Wikipedia page to include Bazini as one of the club's owners. 

I guess we should start at the big picture and narrow our focus. After this weekend's results, Tormenta is eighth place and the final playoff spot, tied with Omaha in points and just two behind Charlotte. Alta continued their slide as they are now winless in 11 straight matches and now sit on the outside looking in with 31 points. 

Some may say Tormenta controls their own destiny, but those people are fools and can be ignored. Destiny is not something you control but is a something that happens to you. Trying to control your own destiny is as foolish as trying to control the weather.  You can't control that.

But what Tormenta does control is their place in the playoffs. Win the next five games and no matter what happens, they're in the playoffs. 

And how did they get in that position? By Niall Reid-Stephen and Yaniv Bazini teaming up twice on goals and a stellar defensive showing from the Ibies. 

The first goal would see Mason Tunbridge play a long  ball from just inside midfield into the penalty area. Reid-Stephen would control it as his momentum took him to the endline. Bazini, at the corner of the box behind Reid-Stephen, would break towards the middle and Reid-Stephen's pass would allow Bazini to one time it to the far side netting to put Tormenta ahead 1-0 in the 54th minute.

Nineteen minutes later the duo would hook up again. This one started with a header from Taylor Gray, again near midfield up the line. Reid-Stephen would shoulder an Alta defender off the ball, stutter step by another defender and then play a pass to the middle with the outside of his left foot and then casually continue running to the endline as Bazini finished with his second goal of the night. 

Gray would play a part in Tormenta's third goal as well as he took a pass from the endline into the Alta box where he was tripped up with the official immediately awarding a penalty. Bwana would calmly convert in the 83rd minute to quell any chance of chance of an Alta comeback. 

Tormenta outshot Alta 13-12 (on target was also in favor of Tormenta, 6-3.)

South Georgia returns home for a two-game homestand beginning with Richmond on Saturday. Judging by the RiverCity93 podcast released last night, fans are not happy with the direction and play of Richmond right now. 

If the world does end, let me just say it's been a pleasure covering Tormenta these past few years and a huge thank you to anyone who took the time to read. If, on the off chance, we're all still here on Wednesday, well, all that stuff I said and I'm glad we're all still around.