Yesterday brought us to the south of Portugal to the town of Serpa, an area with the aura and ambiance of a quintessential European hamlet. Known for its vineyards, olive oil, and cheese, the group was treated to a day of great soccer, great food, and great history. Our Portuguese hosts could not have been more hospitable.
The '95 boys won their match against Serpa with a score of 5-2. Although the scoreline seems a little lopsided, the game was fairly even, with some great finishes by the VA boys, including 2 by Kelvin, 1 by Max, 1 by Bashir, and 1 by Eduardo. The '96 boys had to fight back from a 2 goal deficit in the second half to defeat Aldenovense 3-2. James had 2 great goals and Graydon got the game winner to secure the victory.
After some pictures and a presentation of gifts by our hosts, we enjoyed another great meal while watching Benfica defeat Liverpool in the Europa League. With about a 2 hour bus ride back to Punta Umbria, time was passed on the bus ride with "Portuguese/Spanish Idol." Some great performances by the '96 boys saw them overshadow the '95 "veterans." Hopefully day 2 of the competition sees the '95 boys bounce back.
Hasta Manana.
Steve Danbusky