By Jackson Sexton
VCU vs. Clemson
Today, the #2 ranked Tigers took on the VCU Rams. Traveling all the way from Richmond, Virginia, the Rams were looking to snap the Tigers’ incredible start to the season, going 3-0-1 in their first four games.
Clemson came out the gates with both a 4-2-4 formation and utter dominance, retaining a large majority of ball possession throughout the first 30 minutes before VCU, in their 4-2-4, began to get more chances. Within those 30 minutes there was some action to say the least. For the Tigers, coming out of a corner kick was an absolute screamer from defender Arthur Duquenne from outside the box that took one bounce off the crossbar, another bounce off VCU keeper Trevor Maloney’s back, only to be collected by a defending ram.
A similar chance came for the Rams too with an awarded free kick hitting the far post from the outer left side of the box courtesy of a Clemson yellow card. With the Tigers unshaken, #7 Wahabu Musan punched in a 2v1 breakaway goal making it 1-0 with 15 minutes left in the first half, allowing them to go into the locker rooms with their heads held high at the half.
Coming out of halftime was an immediate change of pace, Andrey Salmeron for VCU scored his second goal of the season only 5 minutes in, responding with a breakaway goal of his own. That goal was courtesy of a slipped-up corner kick by Clemson, their second within those first 5 minutes. That’s 1-1. The Rams started to show signs of fighting from then on, scaring the Tiger crowd with a through-ball pushed just a bit long by Fabian Garita. Then another scare for the Tigers, what was almost a breakaway goal became a clutch save for keeper Joseph Andema. However, the scare streak ended with a goal from VCU Ghanian forward #14 Mohammed Ibrahim, avoiding the attempted tackle from Daniel Bunk and juking the keeper, leaving the goal wide open. That’s 2-1 Rams.
In the closing 10-15 minutes of the game, Clemson was in desperation for a goal, this is when Wahabu Musah went 1v1 with keeper Maloney. Maloney deflected it out, but the ball came right back to Clemson midfielder Gabriel Santuari, who lined up the shot from outside the box, and hit the crossbar.
That chance would be their final, VCU takes the away game win 2-1 and upsets the #2 Tigers. Despite Clemson having 12 total corners, with 9 of them being in the second half, they couldn’t find the back of the net. But credit is very much due to the Rams, this was arguably their biggest win in school history. The last time they had a win this big was September 12th, 2004, where they beat the #5 ranked UNC Tar Heels 5-2, so it goes without saying that they’ve certainly been due up for another history-making match, and they got just that.
Final – VCU Rams: 2 Clemson Tigers: 1
One Comment
Great account of game.