College Soccer
La Salle players defeated Benfica in pick-up game at Snow Bowl
They didn’t have any coaches and they weren’t wearing their school’s uniforms, but a team of players from La Salle did look good in a 2-1 win over Benfica in a 60-minute pick-up game at the Snow Bowl on Saturday at WSFS Bank Sportsplex.
Pedro Amadou and Alberto Esquivel scored a goal in each half to lead the Explorers – wearing APSL club Philadelphia Soccer Club jerseys – to the victory in one of the consolation games played on the final day of the inaugural tournament.
Nazif Inoussa pulled a goal back for Benfica in the second half to secure the Golden Boot in the U-18 division but the Explorers back line held up well against the technical Portuguese side to close out the match.
“When you get the chance to play against European competition, you can’t pass up the opportunity,” La Salle junior Alexandru Zama said after the match. “Everyone was excited and we came out on top.”
Zama helped set up the first goal with a clever early ball into the heart of the defense and combined with outside back Zeke Zambrano on the left side to push into the final third. The YSC Academy grad said it was bittersweet playing in the complex since it was completed after he graduated but still a good opportunity as the team prepares for another Philly Soccer Spring Cup run this spring.
“It’s great to see how everything has come together here,” Zama said. “It’s a beautiful facility.”
The Philly Soccer Spring Cup finals will be back at WSFS Bank Sportsplex on April 18. Lehigh and Lafayette have joined the competition this year to bring the total number of teams to eight. Saint Joseph’s won last year’s final on penalties over Atlantic 10 rivals La Salle.
