Bench Warmers stun rivals in knockout upset
Bench Warmers FC turned their season around on Tuesday night, beating the side that had thrashed them 7-2 just two weeks earlier.
Bench Warmers FC produced one of the upsets of the season in the USX 6-a-side soccer league on Tuesday night, beating their opponents 5-1 in a knockout tie to advance in the league’s inaugural end-of-season top-eight tournament.
Captain Daniel Cassel could barely contain his excitement after the final whistle. Just two weeks ago, the same fixture had ended in a 7-2 thrashing for Bench Warmers, making Tuesday’s result all the more remarkable.
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“The boys fought, and we kept our heads clinical when it mattered,” Cassel said. “Defensively, we were incredible.”
He was quick to single out goalkeeper Justin Hodnett as the difference-maker on the night. With Hodnett absent for the previous meeting between the two sides, Cassel said his return transformed the team’s entire performance, not just between the posts but in how Bench Warmers built from the back.
“Anybody who watches tonight knows Justin is probably one of the best keepers you’ll get at a 6-a-side arena,” Cassel said. “Not only with the saving, but his control and ball play out the back make a massive difference.”
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Bench Warmers conceded just one goal, a penalty earned from what their captain described as a needless foul, but otherwise kept their opponents at bay throughout.
On the other side, All Stars captain Kgabo Moloto was gracious in defeat. The social club, which formed this season as a way of keeping its members connected, finished in the top four of the league before bowing out of the knockout stage.
“My boys gave it all,” Moloto said. “We were very competitive.”
He acknowledged that most of his squad are working professionals who play purely for fitness and fellowship, gathering every Tuesday to escape the pressures of daily life.
Despite the defeat, Moloto confirmed All Stars will be back next season, hungry to build on what they have learned in their debut campaign.
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