For the first time since he began coaching the Pali Blues in January, Charlie Naimo had to experience the feeling of losing a soccer game. While it isn’t a feeling he wants to get used to, Naimo was rather matter of fact about his team’s 1-0 loss in last Wednesday night’s exhibition against the Chinese U-20 national team at Stadium by the Sea. The Blues were a bit rusty and not at full strength, having not played a real game since winning the W-League title in August. Still, those who came to watch were treated to a fast-paced game that featured crisp one-touch passing, outstanding goaltending and end-to-end rushes by both sides. The difference was a goal by midfielder Zhang Rui off a corner kick by Li Lin in the 86th minute, just four minutes from full time. China’s top scorer, Luo Jia Hui, was injured on a partial breakaway early in the second half and did not return. “I’m very happy to have scored the goal,” Rui said through an interpreter. “I had the confidence to do it that late in the game.” The friendly was a farewell match of sorts for Pali Blues players who will be moving on to the newly-formed Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). “My subbing patterns would’ve been different in a league or championship game but all credit to China,” Naimo said. “We didn’t deserve to beat a team so game sharp and headed for the World Cup. Our goal was to have fun and get everybody on the pitch. Everything was going according to plan until that corner kick found its way into the back of the net, but this is the type of game I’m happy to use up our bad luck on.” For the over 400 fans who turned out on a brisk November night, the game was a chance to cheer on many Blues players who were so integral to the team’s inaugural season in 2008 that concluded with the Blues winning the W-League championship in Virginia Beach. “It was a great back-and-forth game with very few chances either way, and it had 0-0 written all over it,” Naimo continued. “It was obvious that our former players had been trying to keep up with the game in preparation for the new league or combine, but it is impossible without games. We as a group were happy to provide the Chinese team with a world class game.” China’s Coach Zhang Guilai also praised his team’s opponent, saying the Blues were much better than the U-20 Mexican team they tied 1-1: “They are faster, more aggressiv and have better teamwork. It took us a few minutes to adjust to the speed of the [artificial) surface but I think we overcame the jet lag quite well.” Looking every bit like a team ready top challenge for the World Cup, which begins Friday in Chile, the Chinese took it right to the Blues from the opening kickoff. “This is a completely different team but we still have the highest standards,” said Blues midfielder Jill Oakes, ice packs taped around both knees. “My touch was a little rusty. I started getting it back by the end of the game.” Oakes was selected second overall in the WPS General Draft by the Bay Area–one of nine Blues players headed for the next level. Matilda Sarah Walsh was selected by Sky Blue FC in the WPS International Draft, and Australian Collette McCallum was taken by Sky Blue FC as a discovery player. At halftime of Wednesday’s exhibition, two local U16 girls AYSO teams, Pali 1 and Pali 2, played a spirited scrimmage. Then, the Blues took the field and began controlling the tempo for the first time, creating several corner kick chances. “I was surprised by some of the breaks we caught,” Oakes said. After beating the Blues, the Chinese departed for Chile, where they take on Argentina, France and the United States in the first round of the U-20 Women’s World Cup. In their past two appearances, China’s U-20s have claimed two silver medals. In 2006 they fell to Korea DPR in Moscow in what was the first U-20 Women’s World Cup. In 2004 they reached the championship game against Germany in the U-19 World Cup in Thailand.
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