Eastlake Boys Soccer cracks in 1-0 loss to Bothell in double overtime
The Eastlake Wolves lost at home, 1-0, to the Bothell Cougars on Thursday, April 3, in double overtime.
A 0-0 stalemate held the entire first half as both teams struggled to find a winning strategy. Control of the ball bounced back-and-forth as every attempt was stopped by the opposing defense.
The lack of offensive action suddenly ended when Eastlake captain Dhruv Avadhanam stole a bad pass by the Bothell defense just outside the 18-yard box. With a quick shot, the ball sailed over the Bothell keeper but hit the crossbar, deflecting right onto the goal line but not across it. No goal.
With minutes until the half, both teams turned on the jets for many more attacks. Eastlake keeper Pablo Basave-Jazmin saved a shot on goal. A Bothell counterattack was stopped by an expert tackle from Eastlake defender Sebastien Freeman. A missed catch by Basave-Jazmin gifted the ball to an attacking Bothell player. Luckily for the Wolves, the subsequent shot was high and sailed over the unguarded net. As the whistle blew to end the half, neither team showed any progress on the board.
Eastlake returned to the second half energized and ready to fight. The Wolves took possession early, launching attack after attack, putting Bothell under constant siege.
A perfect through-ball by Eastlake striker Landon Levengood sailed over the heads of the entire Bothell defense to midfielder Bruno Perversi. In a one-on-one with the Bothell keeper, Perversi’s shot was deflected. In the span of a few minutes, Eastlake had taken several more shots, all just wide of the goal.
As time ran short, the roles reversed; it was now Bothell putting on the pressure. Intercepting an Eastlake pass, a Bothell striker took the ball to goal for a one-on-one with the Eastlake keeper. Putting his body between the ball and the goal, Basave-Jazmin dove at the striker for a tackle, securing the ball.
In the remaining time, Bothell kept possession and took shot after shot on the Eastlake goal. As the whistle blew to end the game, the 0-0 stalemate held. The game was forced into a five-minute overtime.
Overtime is sudden death. The first goal ends the game for the win.
With one minute left in the overtime round, a corner kick for Bothell nearly ended the game. A headed ball bounced off Basave-Jazmin causing a scuffle in the goal box. The eventual clearance out of the box ended the threat but forced a second overtime.
As exhaustion set in, neither team managed decisive action to open the next round. An in-bound throw for Bothell brought the ball just outside the 18-yard box. With a quick turn, Bothell player Nebby Natnael threaded the needle with a shot through three Eastlake defenders, under Basave-Jazmin’s dive, and into the back of the Eastlake net. Game over.
The Bothell Cougars claimed the narrow victory, 1-0, in double-overtime.
The Eastlake Wolves will play the Mercer Island Islanders at Eastlake on Thursday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m.
