Miss a minute, miss a lot.
Sierra’s Gerardo Magana broke away in the first minute Tuesday night and got around the Manteca goalie for a quick score on the way to a 6-2 win for the Timberwolves in boys Valley Oak League soccer action at Guss Schmiedt Field.
“I just saw the play wide open,” Magana said. “I saw the goalie coming out and I just did a composed finish.”
Jordan Shinn attempted a penalty kick in the ninth minute and it was blocked, but he managed to get the deflection back into the net to put Sierra (2-1 VOL, 5-3 overall) ahead, 2-0.
Shinn was around two more Timberwolves goals. Midway through the second half, he deflected a goal in off of a Buffaloes defender. With 10 minutes left in the game he fired off another shot that rebounded to Abel Arias, who got the ball into the net to make the score 5-2.
“This was fun,” Shinn said. “We have a good team and if my teammates had not got me the balls they did I would not have scored, so I thank the team for that.”
Adib Guedoir had the first and last goals of the second half Sierra.
In the 47th minute Guedoir fired in a rebound to break a 2-2 tie and with eight minutes left in the game Guedoir arced a rainbow shot in from the sideline on the deep wing into the far corner of the net for the final score.
“It got real close,” Timberwolves coach Joe Pires said. “But in the end things fell apart for them. We got the victory, but it wasn’t pretty.
“We gave up two goals – one a stupid foul for a PK and the other one was a mistake to make it 2-2.”
After Shinn’s goal, Manteca (2-2, 3-3) took advantage of two Sierra penalties to quickly tie the game.
Alexis Lopez got the Buffaloes on the board with a penalty kick in the 13th minute and two minutes later, Javier Flores tied the game when his direct kick was deflected into the net.
That 2-2 score remained until the Timberwolves notched their four unanswered goals in the second half.
“I guess it comes down to we let some things get in our head,” Manteca coach Daniel Guevara said. “And that’s when it spiraled out of control.
“We have to make sure in the future we maintain our speed of play and be a little more disciplined.”
There were seven yellow cards in the game.
“There was a little bit too much of that stuff for my tastes,” Guevara said, “As a matter of fact, that is what got us into a bind.
“Unfortunately, things did not go our way, but we will get another chance at them next time.”
Sierra travels to Modesto on Thursday to face Central Catholic at 5:45 and on Friday at 5:45 p.m. the Buffaloes host Modesto.