Morton tops West Chicago in OT

Updated: September 8, 2011 10:22PM

Most goals in soccer boil down to one good pass, one good look on net, and one good strike.

Morton’s Abdon Delgado had the pass and Alonso Torres made a good look on net count, scoring in a second overtime to give the No. 8 Mustangs a 2-1 win over West Chicago on Thursday.

“I just saw an opening and I went for it,” Torres said, after running onto Delgado’s pass on the right side and blistering it to the back netting from 14 yards out.

The win sends the Mustangs (6-1) into the quarterfinal round of this year’s Pepsi Showdown, but the Wildcats (6-2-2) made them earn it.

“I just thought it was an outstanding game between two quick, very skilled teams,” Morton coach Mike Caruso said. “We usually don’t see that kind of skill and quickness against us. It was back and forth but I thought we just had a few more prime chances.”

Morton defenders Delgado, Elias Salgado, Roberto Avila, and Joel Leon, along with goalkeeper Miguel Chacon, limited a West Chicago team that has been lighting up the scoreboard this season.

West Chicago topped St. Viator 4-2 to earn the right to take on Morton, and the Wildcats have put six goals on the board against Wheaton Academy, Palatine, and St. Francis this season.

“Joel Leon was in command back there,” Caruso said. “I thought once the second half started we were more in control and kept our composure against a very tough team. Offensively, that’s the best team we’ve played.”

The frame was unkind to Morton on a good handful of scoring chances. The Mustangs’ Jesus Morales sent a shot off the post in the opening minutes, and he hit the crossbar with a free kick before halftime.

Teammate Tony Rodriguez hit the crossbar with a shot in the second half before Delgado broke the scoreless tie at 74 minutes, with a free kick that – naturally – caromed off the crossbar and then the post before falling over the goal line.

West Chicago tied the game one minute later on a Richard Paret penalty kick after a handball call, setting up a pair of overtime periods that culminated in Torres’ goal.

“We felt like we deserved to win,” West Chicago forward Esteban Fernandez said. “They play exactly like us, high pressure, but we believe we can play with anyone.”

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