By RGV Fútbol/Staff

Related Links: Versión en Español

MISSION, 7 Apr. - On one side of field you take a win any way you can get it, but on the other side of the pitch you don’t like to lose on a questionable call and the roulette of penalty kick.

That’s how Friday night’s highly anticipated 4A boys high school sectionals playoff match between Valley View and Roma played out when the Tigers narrowly defeated Roma 1-0 on a penalty kick at Rattlers Stadium that advanced Valley View to the regional quarterfinals for the second straight year.

Valley View will face Victoria East in the Region IV-4A quarterfinals on April 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi.

"We knew the quality of the rival we had before us. We know they’re strong and well coached, and that’s why they’re district champs," said second-year Valley View head coach Damián Magallán. "Our experience, all our hard work during the season and even during the preseason when we played in the Brownsville and Brenham tournaments showed the quality of talent our players have, and physically we knew they (Roma) were going to begin to slow down in the second half, and we saw the results.

"We knew what we were in for,” Magallán added. "That’s why I spoke to my players and told them to be calm in the back, don’t make mistakes, always play with a cool head and hot feet."

Valley View’s leading scorer José Ángel Soto was double and triple-teamed by Roma’s defense, which led to a foul on the junior striker in the goal area with 4:02 remaining in the game. The incident caused a drawn out discussion by the center official and one of the linesmen since the foul was called while the play had continued on, and the ball was out of the box when the foul ocurred.

Gladiator defender Julio González was ejected for the foul and Erick Martínez was called upon to convert the penalty kick, which proved to be the game winner and gave the Tigers a return trip to the regionals.

"The team gave it its all the same way they did," said Martínez. "Both teams were very even. Because of their attitude we got the penalty kick and thank God I was the one to take it. It was a tough game. They’re a good rival, and we respect them for it."

However, the game could have gone either way. Roma was the dominant team in the first half, especially at midfield. Time after time, the Gladiators stopped the Tigers’ advance at the halfway point of the pitch and prompted Valley View to make longer and less precise passes.

Much like the Tigers’ offense, Roma’s attack also sputtered when it made it close to the goal area to keep the game tied at zero at intermission.

After some halftime modifications, Valley View began to create some better scoring opportunities but was still unable to penetrate the Roma defense.

The Gladiators countered with a pair of near misses in the last 11 minutes of the match before the foul on Soto that gave Valley View a penalty kick and the eventual game winner.

"We were a superior team, and we had a lot more opportunities. It’s just a shame they sent the Geritol referees," said Roma head coach José Cortez. "I’m real disappointed with the refereeing, but our guys played with a lot of heart. We should’ve won it and we congratulate Valley View for winning it.

"It came down to one goal, we knew it was going to be a close game," Cortez concluded. "It was a great season, we are district champs and Roma soccer is just going to get better. We have a good foundation of kids coming back and we wish Valley View the best of luck."