No keeper. Ten guys. Eric Wascha at 75%. Richie Oltesvig with a first half concussion. You would have expected an easy Intra victory. But not today.
The Celtic ten stood firm and defended like no other today. Jan Rigterink was strong in the goal. The game was 0-0 through the first water break. Intra would break through for a later first half goal (which may or may not have been offside). It was 1-0 at halftime thanks to one great save by Rigterink.
The second half started out with Intra taking control, but Jason Martin sent a perfect ball to the back post where 75% of Wascha was heading. He stuck his left foot out and redirected the service into the net. It was suddenly 1-1 and Celtic felt pretty good. Intra was busy crying about fouls and yelling at each other when Colin Miranda took a ball to the endline and served a wicked screamer into the box. Captain Okerstrom crashed the net and headed in while taking a boot to the back of the head. Celtic had the unexpected 2-1 lead!
Intra was very upset that they were losing to ten men. They started to pressure Celtic with every possession. Celtic wanted to try and play defense while still pressuing the Intra defense a little. It was a valiant effort, but the combination of Rossi and Seba proved to be a lot to handle for the exhausted home team. Seba sent a perfect pass into the box and Howard was there to finish it. the score was 2-2 but Celtic was not done.
The final few minutes saw Celtic with some decent possession. Was the upset in store? Oltesvig broke down the left wing. He was fould hard around the 30. This would be the final play of the game and everyone knew it. Brian Elliott served a beautiful ball into the box. Martin got air to flick it. The keeper, who hadn't left his line all day, got a hand on it before Okerstrom could tap it into the empty goal.
The game ended 2-2. Great game by the Celtic ten!
MVP: Jan Rigterink
Honorable Mention: Brian Elliott
