GAINESVILLE, Ga. — No matter the sport, the objective is almost always the same: you have to score to win.
On a slippery Bobby Gruhn Field in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, Gainesville had chance after chance after chance after chance Friday night. However, it was a nice header shot by Blessed Trinity with 10 minutes to go that was the only goal and eventual game-winner in a disappointing 1-0 loss for the Red Elephants.
"We had so many chances early, but we could not get a goal," an obviously frustrated Gainesville coach Elie Viviant said afterward. "We had two breakaways in the first half and a couple of other good opportunities when (Blessed Trinity defenders) slipped. We had the advantage at home on grass."
Gainesville (13-5-1) had seven corners to just two for Blessed Trinity (15-3), who moves on to next week's second round. The Red Elephants outshot the Titans 14-9. But where it mattered most, they could not find an answer for the Titans' defense and keeper, Michael Roth, who made eight saves.
"You have to score to win. We just couldn't get it done," Viviant said. "It's a tough one to lose."
After a back-and-forth first half, Gainesville keeper Wilberth Orellan Torres looked to give the Red Elephants a major boost by stopping a Titans' penalty kick attempt by Sam Jimenez in the 48th minute.
Twice over the next six minutes, Gainesville got deep into Blessed Trinity territory, but a pair of shots by Christian Perez Sesma were deflected.
A wet field played its part, for sure. Both teams had trouble at times, slipping at key moments on both offense and defense.
The deciding moment came on a direct kick by Blessed Trinity. Jack Chambers guided a floating pass into the box, where Nick Apple was able to direct a header past Torres to break the tie with just 10 minutes left.
Gainesville got a corner a minute later but could not generate a scoring opportunity. The Red Elephants would launch deep balls into the box twice more but could not get a clean shot.
The Titans were able to control the ball most of the final three minutes to deny Gainesville a late comeback.
The first big chance for the Red Elephants came in the 6th minute. Following a Blessed Trinity corner, Gainesville was able to create a quick counter and run into the Titans' box. A pass from Chrisitofer Lopez found its way to Alejandro Lemus, but Titans' keeper Michael Roth was able to make the save.
Gainesville had another golden opportunity in the 13th minute when Sesma stole a pass and dished it off to Lemus, who dribbled into the box. But Lemus's 20-yard blast sailed wide.
In the 21st minute, Gainesville had another chance on a Lopez to Miguel Galaviz pass, but the shot sailed high. Three minutes later, another Galaviz shot was blocked inside the box.
Gabriel Ixcoy Calel nearly broke the scoreless tie in the 36th minute with a nifty move around two Blessed Trinity defenders, resulting in an 8-yard blast. But Roth made another diving save.
In the 47th minute, Gainesville had two more shots blocked by the Titans' backline inside the box.
"If we could put any of those away, it's a different game," Viviant said. "You have to put shots away; we just didn't do it."
