DOWN JUNIORS 1-2 CHIVAS GUADALAJARA
There was heartbreak for the Down Juniors in the semi-final of the Vase as Chivas Guadalajara scored deep in injury time to record a 2-1 comeback win.
As the game got underway it was the Mexican Chivas who threatened first, when on seven minutes, Bernal got to the bye-line and cut the ball back to Sebastian Perez, but despite time on his side he couldn’t direct his shot.
A couple of minutes later and an attack from Down saw Owen Madine play in Reece Doyle and the forward opened his body well only to see his shot hit the base of the far post.
Down took the lead in the last minute of the half. Good work from Bailey Locke played in Matty Lusty and from the left side of the area he skipped inside a defender to place the ball neatly inside the far post.
Gary McAlister’s county team had a great chance to double their lead on 50 minutes when Lusty went clear through the middle. He unselfishly picked out Ben Hollinger but the substitute couldn’t take the shot on first time and the eventual effort hit the side netting.
Six minutes later and Chivas were level when Fernando Virgen got on the end of a ball cut back from the bye-line to tap home from a yard or so in front of goal.
Things got worse for Down when three minutes into stoppage time Chivas grabbed their winner. No-one moved to close down Andrew Puertos and he was able to stretch his legs into the Down area and place a low shot by keeper Ryan Dalzell.
Later still and Down had a glorious chance to send the game to penalties when a free kick into the area from Archer found its way to Oran Magee but he had to watch on as the keeper clawed the ball back just as it was about to cross the goal line.
DOWN: Dalzell, Hopes, Rolleston, Archer, Locke (McDarby 41), Madine, Doyle (Hollinger 49), Lusty (Boyd 53), Magee, Heron, Davidson
