County Fermanagh got their Milk Cup campaign off to a disappointing start in Portrush following a 6-1 defeat to AS Roma USA.
There was a quick start to the match, with the football end-to-end and both sides looking to impose themselves on the game. It was the American side who took the lead, Ethan Bowen with an firm header from an inswinging free kick. Fermanagh responded well and should have equalised through defender Seanie Mahon but his shot came back off the cross-bar.
A quick-fire double seemed to put the game beyond Fermanagh midway through the first half. Roma got their second goal courtesy of a stunning half-volley from Josh Sargent before Matt Hundley fired into the bottom corner from a similar distance soon after. Sargent was proving to be handful and nabbed his second before half time as he was put through on goal and finished calmly.
To Fermanagh’s credit, they came out in the second half looking re-energised and a defensive mix-up allowed substitute Sean Cassidy to pull a goal back and give Fermanagh a glimmer of hope. But that was short-lived, as the impeccable Sargent sealed his hat trick (and the win) with a neat finish. The game seemed to lose its way slightly with both teams acknowledging it was over as a contest. Roma added a sixth late on, in what was the certainly the move of the match. Taylor Davila danced around a number of defenders, played a ball over the top and then darted into the middle to side foot home. It capped off an excellent performance from the Americans, suggesting they could be dark horses in this year’s tournament.
Words – Craig Latimer