Mexico wins 1st FIFRA Event
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The setting was perfect for FIFRA’s (Federacion Internacional de Futbol Rapido) first ever championship, the Circuito Mundial 2008. A clear and sunny day about 80 degrees and a light breeze. The Celafete festival on the Old Port of Montreal, and an intimate 3,000 seat arena soccer (indoor/Futbol Rapido) stadium, on natural grass, outdoors on Canada Day. Indoor soccer outdoors on natural grass?
Yes it’s the same game, but reflective of how it is played in the west and Mexico, the word indoor will be a word of the past and Arena Soccer/Futbol Rapido is the new broader name. The game is still boards and turf, but is played indoors or outdoors. The grass is an event by event possibility, but turf will remain the surface of choice.
The arena was completely full, and the corners were packed with standing room only spectators. There was a buzz in the air, the anthems played, and the anticipation of heavily favored Mexico stomping the young USA team was on everyone’s mind.
The US team made up entirely of players from two tryouts, and the majority coming from PASL-Premier teams or newly formed PASL-Pro teams who are to start this October, had never played together. They were playing a Mexican team with seven players from the MISL’s league runner-up Monterrey La Raza. It was obvious, Mexico would slaughter these guys.
Mexico defeated the US 6-4, but the game did not go as many skeptics thought. The game was tied 4-4 with four minutes remaining. There were four times the game was tied and four lead changes. The young team, made a young team’s mistake in the end, with an illegal substitution with less than three minutes left, which sealed their fate. However, a new respect was given, and a new light into the future shined.
The truth was out, the PASL’s new Pro League will be a high caliber league with lots of talent, even if you have not heard of them, yet.
In the second game, the US struggled early falling into a 5-2 hole. The US played with renewed determination and heart in the second half, rallying to take a brief 7-6 lead. Canada rallied on the sheer will of Darko Kolic, who was credited with Canada’s final 6 goals. After falling behind 9-7, the US cut the lead to 1 at 9-8 and 10-9, but Jack Cummings shootout attempt was snuffed out by Canadian goalkeeper Jean Lou Gosselin to preserve the victory.
Evan McNeley lead the US with 4 goals. Brian Farber equalled his point production with 4 assists. Bernie Lilavois, Garth Archibald, and Jack Cummings each had 2 goals.
In the virtual final, Mexico beat Canada 10-5. Mexico lead 7-1 in the first half and Canada got as close at 7-5, but could gain no more ground.
Tournament organizers were ecstatic with the results and there was talk of expanding the format in the future. While the players did their usual entertaining best on the field during the games, US players Dominic Scicluna and Darrel Quinn wowed the crowd with a halftime soccer juggling and breakdancing exhbition.
Tournament MVP’s: Despite Mexico’s tournament championship, it was Canada’s Kolic that took home the MVP prize. The NPSL veteran and forward from PASL- Premier’s Laval XPOS from 2004-07, currently playing with the Vermont Voltage in the USL, had eight goals to lead all scorers. He accounted for over half of Canada’s goals. Genoni Martinez from Mexico had strong consideration as he managed the game on the field for Mexico. He scored three goals and an assist from the defense. Evan McNeley was the top player for team USA with four goals from the defense. It was clear after some debate that Canada would have not competed without Kolic. He almost single-handedly guided Canada to victory over the US, putting them in position to win the tournament. When Canada got down early against Mexico he helped lead a rally that kept a flicker of hope alive.
Link below to original web site
http://www.arenaleague.com/USNAST/260014.html
Las Vegas Knights finished second in the Southwest Division behind San Diego Fusion with a record of (7-3). The winning season qualified them for finals by wildcard.“This is a good start for our first season” said General Manager of LV Knights, Meir Cohen. “We just wanted to build a fan base this first year by playing hard and putting on a good show. I think we did that and next year we’ll be even better.” 
The International PASL Championships are being held on March 8-10 in Tijuana, Mexico. Look for the Las Vegas Knights finals results on lvsportsmagazine.com and be sure to catch the Knights in action next season.
