Fadare lifts Vikings to win in opener

Timi Fadare heard comments directed at his teammate, but didn’t react.

A minute later, he calculated his response.

The Vincent Massey striker seized his moment to fire a left-footed rocket past Crocus Plainsmen goalkeeper Sani Ameh for the game-winner as the Vikings won the Brandon High School Soccer League boys season opener 2-1 at Massey on Monday.

After the shot, Fadare stood, stared at Plainsmen defender Mohamad Alabeid and held his finger over his mouth before jogging back.

“He was chirping at the right winger, Jaxson Brick, and we just don’t take that as a team. One person’s being picked on, it’s one on 11,” Fadare said.

“I shushed him. That’s all I needed to do. I think the goal did enough talking.”

The Vikings didn’t have much to be confident about early in the game, as the Plainsmen came out strong with a stiff, brisk wind at their backs. It took just six minutes for Ousman Ali to jump on an ill-advised ball played across the field. He gathered it and ripped it past Nikko Zorzos to open the scoring.

“I was demoralized. I looked at the faces of my teammates and everyone’s head was down. No one was happy about that,” Fadare said, adding he changed that soon.

“That’s what leaders do. Me, Calen (Sass), Jedaiah (Mated) and the rest of the boys, the coaches, put our heads up.”

Halfway through the frame, Ali was sprung on a breakaway and nearly doubled the lead, but Zorzos steered him wide and forced him to shoot just wide.

Massey’s first big chance came at the 28-minute mark when Kelton McDougall broke through the Plainsmen back line but hammered a shot off the crossbar that barely stayed out.

The Plainsmen led 1-0 at halftime, but just two minutes into the second half, Fadare tried to lob a free kick from 35 metres out to the back post and sailed it over Ameh’s head and into the net to tie it.

Fadare almost scored again a minute later, but Ameh made his save of the game to keep it tied.

Fadare’s winner with 20 minutes to go was longer, but perfectly tucked into the bottom-right corner.

Crocus pressed for the equalizer and had a few chances, but Zorzos was equal to every task until the final whistle.

“Games like this show everyone what this team has, what we’re capable of,” Fadare said. “Crocus came at us strong; we kind of forgot how good they were. But second half, coach (Nathan Chubaty) woke us up and told us 50-50s matter the most. You’ve got to remember, this team pushed us hard. They beat us last season, won the title two years ago.

“Watch out for us Neelin, Crocus, we’re a strong group. We’re going to play hard, not dirty per se, but we’re coming for it all this year.”

The Vikings visit the Spartans on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com