Baton Rouge, LA (May 24) – Heading into their third game of the season, Crescent City FC sat at the top of the table in the Eastern Conference and will continue to remain there after their Saturday night clash with BRSC Capitals; all in thanks to another impressive performance by Jesus ‘Chuy’ Rivera.
On another beautiful spring evening in Louisiana, Olympia Stadium’s pitch was in perfect condition and heavily played into CCFC’s ability to control possession throughout the evening. Things started off early for CCFC and Chuy Rivera, when in the 4th minute Rivera had an early chance narrowly blasted over the crossbar. Not long after, the forward would get in good position inside the BRSC box again and was clipped by the BRSC keeper, leading to a penalty which was converted by Mr. River himself to put CCFC up 1-0 in the 15th minute.
The Capitals would see their best chance of the game come in the 29th minute after Tyler Bridgewater gained enough separation from Anthony Peters and put a great shot on frame, but CCFC’s keeper, Lalo Salazar, would come up big for the away squad. Shortly after on a corner kick for CCFC, newcomer, Fernando Herrara, would connect with PJ Lynch to put CCFC up 2-0.
CCFC’s third goal would come after a dominating string of 14 passes with Chuy Rivera finishing a great lay off by Josey Portillo in the 32th minute. Not too long after in the 40th, Chuy Rivera would once again put the BRSC defense on it’s heels and force a penalty, which would be converted by Fernando Herrera to put the boys up 4-0. Lalo Salazar would be asked to come up big again in stoppage time where BRSC were able to test the Mexican native with three shots on frame, each being saved to close out the half 4-0.
The second half would see an early substitution with Nestor Peralta Jr. coming on for Chuy Rivera. Within the first 10 minutes, Josey Portillo would connect with Peralta Jr. twice, with one chance forcing the BRSC keeper to stretch out for his biggest save of the evening, followed by a goal line clearance from a BRSC defender, keeping the young New Orleans native off the score sheet. In the 60th, a great display of his old self, Portillo would receive a perfect through ball from Fernando Herrera and give the young BRSC keeper a friendly chip to CCFC up 5-0.
The final 30 minutes of the contest would see the NOLA boys continue to control possession, but BRSC would change their attacking position to play high up the field and disrupt CCFC’s ability to play out of the back. This would pay off in the 63rd minute for the home team when a shot on frame would hit off the hands of Lalo Salazar and find it’s way in the back of the net, taking the deficit down to just a 4 goal lead. The second goal for BRSC would come in the 83rd minute after a shot deflected off of a CCFC player going just beyond young keeper Jacob Randolph’s reach. The contest would end 5-2.
Crescent City FC will play New Orleans United at Pan American Stadium on June 2nd for 7:15 PM kickoff. Tickets and season passes for CCFC home games can be purchased here.
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