Corpus Christi FC was within 10 minutes of earning road points in its first two matches as a Premier Development League Franchise when fatigue caught up with the Sharks.
Playing their second match in three days took a toll on Corpus Christi FC and Albion Hurricanes FC Royals took advantage finding the back of the net twice in the late stages of the match to top the Sharks 4-2 last Sunday.
Now armed with their full complement of players, and with more time together, CCFC will play its first regular season home match Saturday against FC Cleburne on Saturday at Dugan Stadium.
And the roles will be reversed.
FC Cleburne will be playing its second game in three days and will go into what CCFC team officials are expecting to be a large crowd in Corpus Christi.
“I think the biggest issue was the quick turnaround for the games,” coach Sebastian Giraldo said. “On Friday we were a team that was very emotional about representing Corpus Christi for the first time.
“That energy helped us win the (opening) game in the 90th minute. Sunday we had emotion as well and we were up 2-0 15 minutes into the game but eventually desire and heart does not cover fatigue. And fatigue hit us heavy.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
For their 1-1 start, CCFC midfielder Nenad Markovic was honored with inclusion in the PDL National team of the week, which is compiled from the league’s 72 teams across the country.
Markovic, who plays at St. Mary’s, tallied the first goal in Sharks history. He, along with midfielder Gabriel Quesada, were also included on the PDL Southern Conference team of the week.
In the loss to AHFC Royals, Ray High School product Seth Korenek and Flour Bluff graduate Karo Azali each tallied their first goals for the Sharks.
Veterans Memorial junior midfielder Karlo Lopez, the youngest player on the team, also scored for CCFC in the exhibition last month.
Giraldo said CCFC is excited to have a full roster of 26 at its disposal moving forward against difficult competition in the PDL.
“The level of competition is very high. Most teams are extremely organized and have a lot of talent. We are right there with those teams, but we have to keep working to get better week-in and week-out,” assistant coach Sebastian Giraldo said.
“We have very little time to train before we start playing games. Soccer is a sport that requires 11 coordinated people the entire game and that takes time. We are getting to know each other and the guys are getting to know our philosophy more and more.”
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
CCFC has sold more than 2,000 tickets for Saturday’s home opener and Giraldo said he expects to have a strong home-field advantage at Dugan Stadium.
“Corpus Christi has been craving this level of soccer for a long time,” Giraldo said. “We are going to give it to them. We have a very talented group overall. What we saw in the friendly is only a hint of what it is going to be like for our home opener. This game matters for us. The guys have been training together for a while now.”
CORPUS CHRISTI FC VS. FC CLEBURNE
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dr. Jack Dugan and Family Stadium, 800 Nile
Tickets: Adults $5, Military and children 5-17 $4, children 4 and younger are free
More info: Call 361-214-3236 or email salesccfc@gmail.com
Courtesy of Quinton Martinez at Caller times