Clinical Woodland Brush Aside Northland with 7-goal Onslaught

Chandler Givler hands the captain's armband over to Naguib Nassir after being subbed off.

The Royals of Woodland FC finally put together a complete performance from start-finish that left visiting Northland FC wondering what the proverbial license plate was of the orange truck that ran them over. Woodland hammered seven incredible goals past the visitors in their most dominant performance of the season.

The Royals were motivated to play well beyond the normal need for 3-points--their home field at Stump Memorial Park was hosting the PARKED summer kickoff event to open the summer in Shawnee Kansas. Hundreds of people descended on the field, and several made their way up to the match to take in the local team's league match.

Woodland got off to a start that was as hot as the summer weather. Within 12-minutes, Woodland had a 3-0 lead thanks to a rapid fire Federico Verlicchi hat trick. Verlicchi's third was, quite possible, a goal of the season candidate. He received a cross from Johnathan Young with the outside of his foot, flicking the ball into the air. Turned around, and flicked it up again past the defender, and fired a half-volley that rocketed toward goal and bulged the net all before the cross from young ever touched the ground. The Woodland bench and staff were in a frenzy celebrating the worldy of a goal.

Shortly after, Chandler Givler added a brace to his day by heading in a corner kick from Verlicchi from close range, and then, after latching onto a through ball from TJ Mikkelson, raced past his defender, and put it through the keeper's legs.

Johnathan Young would complete the first half scoring by racing onto an excellent diagonal ball from Xander Christian. He brought it down off his chest straight into his path, killing almost all the inertia from the long ball, and raced into the penalty box. He took his time, lined up the shot, and blasted it past the keeper.

The scoring would be completed when 2nd-half substitute, Alex Tate, was played in on goal by TJ Mikkelson again. Tate, normally a centre-half, was able to open up, and record his first goal for the club to complete the rout.

The Woodland coaching staff lauded the complete performance from front-back. The Royals are still alive in the league title chase, but only just, as they head into the Independence Day break. They sit 9 points back of Olathe United with 3 matches to play. Olathe must lose 3 of their final 4 matches for Woodland to catch them.

Their next match is at Antioch Rangers FC on July 12th. Location TBD.

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