The St. Croix Soccer League-leading Unique Sport Club and Chelsea played to a 1-1 draw Saturday afternoon at the Schjang Ball Park in Estate St. John in a match that was, for the most part, dominated by the league leaders.
Saturday’s contest was the first of three games scheduled for the weekend in the local league, and the fans lining the picturesque soccer pitch were treated to some excellent gamesmanship on the part of both teams. Unique, however, led by playmaker extraordinaire Aaron Abrahamson, looked to be a step ahead of Chelsea. They easily won the time-of-possession contest and looked in full control throughout the first half.
Their only problem was taking advantage of the chances created by their stellar play in the opening period. Chelsea must also be commended for withstanding the early pressure from Unique to reach halftime with a nil-nil score.
It would not take too long in the second half of play for Unique to finally get on the board with the first goal of the game, however. It came in the 53rd minute off the boot of Keith Cornelius, but as expected it was as a result of a fine run by Abrahamson, who got the assist. The mid-fielder took a pass from about mid field and made a remarkable run down the left side, weaving his way through a plethora of would-be Chelsea defenders. He dribbled into the left side of the penalty box, drawing several defenders to him, then nearing the end line he sent a true pass back across the mouth of the goal to on-rushing teammate and striker Cornelius who knew exactly what to do. Cornelius hit a one-timer into the back of the net and the celebration was on for the Unique fans around the field and in the stands.
After that goal Unique would continue to press the action and had several opportunities to put the game out of reach, but time after time they would fail to convert. On the other hand, man for man Chelsea may not have been as skilled as the opposition, but they were fit, and that may have been the equalizer in the end. With about 15 minutes left in the match they looked the fresher of the teams and started to apply some pressure on a somewhat fatigued-looking Unique club.
It is said that “pressure bust pipe," and for Unique that break came in the 79th minute when Chelsea got the equalizer.
A turnover at midfield seemed to catch a tiring Unique defense off guard and, with pressure being applied by Chelsea’s Denver Gordon, a ball that apparently came off the boot of a defender found its way into the net for the equalizer. Gordon was credited with the goal, and it was now the Chelsea fans that were celebrating and hoping for an upset victory with 11 minutes left in the game.
Both teams had their moments in the final minutes of the game with the league leaders again getting the better chances, but no one could find the back of the net and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
