Kalonji Pro-Profile — Beaman United (20-11-2022)

As the US has a summer competition, with the MLS season usually running from March to October, and some of the lower leagues playing just 6-8 games over the summer, it is hard to find any soccer in November. However, the qualifying rounds for the US Open Cup are still on, so I went to a game in the third round for the 2023 season. Kalonji Pro-Profile is a soccer academy from Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, which plays its games at the football stadium of Shiloh High School. Don’t ask me where that name comes from.

 

The stadium is quite big, with huge bleachers, which could easily fit 1.000 people, I think. On this cold Sunday evening, there are less than 20 though. Most seem either family or friends of the players. The game is free, by the way.

 

Despite a minimum number of fans, and a complete lack of atmosphere, the home team already scores in the 4^th minute after a quick counter and a cool finish across the goal. About fifteen minutes, the guests, Beaman United, another academy all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, have a header in the box, which goes wide.

 

In the 39^th minute a Beaman shot from 20 meters bounces in front of the goalkeeper, who also gets the rebound. A few minutes later the guests get a throw-in at 20 meter, but lose it, and with one pass a Kalonji striker is alone at the goalie, who is about 30 meter outside of his goal, and simply passed by a low shot from almost 40 meter. However, in the extra time, Beaman scores from a deflected rebound just outside of box. Half time score: 2-1.

 

I spend the half time in my car, as there is absolutely nothing to do (or eat) and it is cold, and when I get back, the game has just restarted, and a good attack of the guests leads to a shot from close range and a good safe. In the 72th minute, out of nowhere, a Beaman player accelerates from 20 meter, gets through 2 defenders, and shoots from roughly 13 meter hard and high, leaving the goalie no chance: 2-2.

 

Just five minutes later, a seemingly easy build-up is given away by consecutive terrible passes and in a by-now classic counter Kalonji easily scores the 3-2. Two minutes later, Beaman hits the crossbar with a header. In the 85^th minute, Kalonji has a slow counter, where a players stands for almost a minute with the ball on the sideline, gives a pass, and the striker shoots hard from inside box, but the Beaman goalie saves.

 

 

At that time, I decide to leave, as it is both boring and really cold. Turnout out, second before the end of regular time, Beaman equalized, out of a corner, and a freaky own goal from one meter. This led to extra time, without goals, and ultimately penalties, which were won by Beaman United, in the ultimate penalty, 3-4. Quite the turnaround, as Kalonji was much better in the first half and kind of failed to kill off the game at that stage.

 

 

In the end, I am not sad to have left earlier. US soccer at this level is just so sad. I cannot remember ever playing for so few people. Even when I was 6 years old, in the Netherlands, there would be more family and friends. The “soccer academies” are just random selections of players who still hope to make it semi-pro, I guess. Although I miss groundhopping, I don’t think I will go to these low level games in the US anymore.