Disappointment and Disgust

BSL Classic Leg 1 = That Sinking Feeling

- San Antonio

Alamo City seems lost. The players, management, and fans have all been left to scratch their heads after the first leg of the BSL Classic played out this past weekend. In a matter of a few seconds the last 15 months of the club's existence was summed up by Eric Hassli. After nailing a PK to strike first blood, Hassli was given a second yellow and thusly a red card. His tally was erased from the score line and it proved to be the deciding factor in the match. Team Captain David Ferreira did his part in a breakout performance that saw him net his first two goals of the season but it wasn't enough. The rest of the squad fell flat and Alamo City fell to Capital District once again.

"Honestly, it's getting pretty ridiculous. I mean, not only did Hassli's red erase a goal from our score sheet, it provided Camilo Sanvezzo the opportunity to play the full 90 minutes and Sanvezzo made the most of it. This is the kind of thing we've been dealing with for far too long now. We simply don't understand and we don't have an answer."

If Alamo City plans on making any waves in the BSL or the Major's Cup, they'd better figure something out, and quick.

The BSL Classic - Leg 1

"This is where legends are born."

"History is written in matches like this."

"Hate, spite, and respect."

Those are just some of the quotes floating around the Alamo City Battle locker room as the club prepares for the first leg of the BSL Classic against heated rivals, the CD Gunners. The history between the two clubs is well known. It is written all over the record books of both clubs, and the league. If you were to just glance at the stat line of the overall historical record you'd see a pretty even match up. Don't tell Alamo City it's even though.

"Heavens no this thing isn't even, they're up on us. Results are hard to come by in this rivalry. Add them up and you'll see they're up 9-6 on points. They've also outscored us by two goals overall, and they lifted the cup each year as well. However, we do own the biggest win in the rivalry, and that's what makes this a classic."

Alamo City management is referring to the inaugural BSL Cup Title Match that saw (then) Montgomery County shut out Capital District to win the first ever BSL Cup Title. Tossing that bit of information into the equation and all of a sudden it looks like maybe Alamo City really does have the upper hand in this derby. You won't find any of the players, technical staff, or management thinking that way though. "Yes, our one win in this derby is by far the biggest win not only in the rivalry, but in our club's history. It doesn't change the fact though that it is our one win, in all of this. Our goal is to do more than just erase that figure. By the end of this season we look to have taken complete control of this derby."

For the first leg of the BSL Classic, Alamo City has filed the following lineup with the league:

Ferreira

Henry

Angel

Folan

Hassli

Khalfan

Martina

Alvarez

Hall

SUBS: McLoughlin - Lekic - Galindo

RES: Rimando - Kamara

Shades of 2010 ?

Some Positives But An All Too Familiar Feel

- San Antonio

The 3rd Match Day of 2011 brought an old feeling back to Alamo City management. "Yeah, it's kind of that ugly feeling in the pit of your stomach but you just can't put your finger on what is causing it." That's how the 2010 BSL Season started for Montgomery County. This year, as Alamo City, that feeling hasn't exactly set in but it is creeping into the picture. "As we were at the start of least season, we're just kind of scratching our heads. It's almost as if the stars have decided to constantly line up against us. Surely things can't continually turn out this way."

What Alamo City management is referring too, is the dumb luck (of the bad variety) that the club seems to have with timing. So far this season O'Brian White had looked lost up top for Seattle. It just so happens he finally hits the back of the net when Alamo City comes too town. Teal Bunbury had some fitness issues (injury) to start the season but gets his first full match under his belt (and first two goals) when Alamo City comes to town. Couple that with a continued rough start for reigning MVP David Ferreira and the fact that he, Juan Pablo Angel, and Thierry Henry all couldn't find a way to score a point ... and you start to see what they brass of ACSC is getting at. But things aren't all doom and gloom in the Alamo City camp. "We had to very big positives for us in this match. We put up points without any of our four biggest players netting a point. Henry, Ferreira, and Angel were shut out and Hassli was serving his suspension. We still got on the board with a three spot. That's big. Kamara is on fire to start the season, and Folan showed exactly why we took the risk on him in the draft. Give that man time up front and he's going to be a hell of a force here." And that could be the key to Alamo City's season. The management referred to the 'big 4' in terms of players. Well, if Kamara and Folan are doing this kind of scoring at the bottom of the line up ? Yeah, we can see why management isn't ready to punch the panic button just yet. There were however, a couple of moves this week:

Alamo City released Videira (CHI) - Kasey Keller (SEA) and singed Nizar Khalfan (VAN) - Tally Hall (HOU)

Up Next for Alamo City - The BSL Classic First Leg

There isn't much time to dwell on the tough defeat to Stoners FC. The Battle now have to travel to their original rivals, CD Gunners, and contest the first leg of the BSL Classic this week. The roster looks as though it should be 'full' for the first time this week as all of the Battle's players should be available for selection. Alamo City is going to need every man ready to go in order to keep from falling into the same hole that the club did at the start of last season. While there are no easy matches in the BSL, this one has that something extra to it. The two original champions of the BSL both look to regain their proper footing in the league. For Alamo City it could be 'more of the same' in this match up. CD's line up is poised for the same kind of breakout that Stoners FC had against the Battle this week. Darlington Nagbe is looking to finally get on the pitch for Portland, Freddy Montero is due for a huge game at any time now, Saborio and Morales are back in action, and Camilo announced his arrival to the league this week. Hopefully the Battle have enough firepower to take the first leg.