Andrews Osborne vs. Worthington Christian boys soccer: Phoenix reign, 2-1, for Division III state championship
Nov. 11—COLUMBUS — The crossroads of the world arrived at the crossroads of Ohio on Nov. 11 as Andrews Osborne took on Worthington Christian for the Division III boys soccer state championship at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.
After a tense 80, the Phoenix made it certain: Those crossroads have now intersected at the peak of the Buckeye State.
Inaki Pinto and Enrique Benito Sierra struck for goals after halftime, and AOA hung on late for a 2-1 win, its first state championship in boys soccer or any team sport.
⚽️ AOA's Giancarlo Toirac, Hugo Ricondo Caballero & Ishmael Mensah reflect on the broader personal meaning of a 2-1 D3 state final win over Worthington Christian & an unbeaten campaign pic.twitter.com/aNQaY3cSDl
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
The Phoenix, who cap an unbeaten campaign at 18-0-1, are the first boys soccer state champion from a News-Herald coverage area school since 2000 Hawken and just the fourth all-time. The others were 1987 Kenston and 1994 Mentor.
⚽️ Andrews Osborne has won the D3 state with a 2-1 win over Worthington Christian @AOA_Athletics @NHPreps pic.twitter.com/KAPhwo28s0
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
Postmatch, AOA coach Drago Dumbovic quipped his high school boys had grown into men before his very eyes. The maturity to see through a state final victory on the biggest stage all the student-athletes in his side had ever faced proved him right.
The side received a police and fire escort out of Willoughby — and it'll return with transcendent hardware.
⚽️ AOA student-athletes accept their medals following a 2-1 D3 state final win over Worthington Christian pic.twitter.com/Bk0YFiFLGW
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
"The kids are coming in from all over the world," Dumbovic said. "They come and join us and learn about American life and cultures and everything else. We assemble all hearts, and they just work extremely hard.
"We basically represent 12 countries in our squad. So that is all great. But you can imagine first day — 12 countries coming together? (laughs) But look at today. The whole idea was to put together a brotherhood. That was the most important part."
After a scoreless opening 40, Pinto opened the Phoenix account in the 43rd minute. The senior collected service from midfield, took a heady first touch into space and opted for a slick low-90 left-footed finish for a 1-0 lead.
⚽️ AOA 1-0
Inaki Pinto 43rd min@AOA_Athletics @NHPreps pic.twitter.com/CkAz2uZnSH
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
After generating five shots on target in the opening 40 as a whole, AOA had five just five minutes into the second half, using its width and ambition to deliver sterling attacking flow.
Then in the 55th, Pinto earned his side a corner kick. Manu Nieto served in — and near-post funneling benefitted the Phoenix again, as Sierra barged in for a header.
⚽️ AOA 2-0
Enrique Benito Sierra 55th min pic.twitter.com/0RjqERQUB2
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
Worthington Christian (19-2-3) had shown plenty of offensive-third propensity on its own accord, making an adjustment with its midfield and taking the attack to the Phoenix down the stretch.
The Warriors grabbed a lifeline in the 66th. Prolific striker Sammy Owusu Sarfo crossed on the ground for Ben Jende. The senior striker, whose run sense centrally or wide was a struggle to contain for AOA throughout the 80, slotted a left-footed finish near post to make it a 2-1 match.
The Phoenix, however, hadn't come this far — from abroad, or this season for that matter — to take silver medals and a runner-up trophy back to Willoughby.
Caleb Van Dop was unlucky with a bar rattler in the 77th, as AOA grasped at the result for dear life in the back.
"It was a nightmare, obviously," AOA goalkeeper Hugo Ricondo Caballero said of seeing out the result amid intense defensive-third pressure. "I was hoping for the whistle. As (Dumbovic) said, (Worthington Christian) was really, really good. They were all the time in our box, having opportunities. It was difficult, but to be fair about it, we played really good defense."
In the postmatch news conference, Dumbovic admitted he thought Caballero had saved Van Dop's strike, not realizing it had skimmed the post.
"Now I'm trembling," Dumbovic said.
It came to pass, and history in so many facets had been achieved.
Amid the postmatch presentations, student-athletes wrapped themselves in the flags of their native lands. The trophy, in the hands of tireless center mid Ishmael Mensah, was walked over to the Phoenix's raucous student section to mark the occasion.
From the crossroads of the world, to the peak of Ohio, this will assuredly be a memory these young men — and its small but mighty school — will savor for the duration.
"This is the last page of our book," Dumbovic said.
He turned to Caballero and asked, "What is the name of the book?"
" 'Making History,' " Caballero responded.
"Today was the last page of our journey," Dumbovic continued. "A history-making book was written. We are going to be the ones who are going to write that page. Nobody else."
In the opening 40, AOA dodged danger in the second minute. Jende drew contact in the box. But the subsequent PK from the spot, taken by a teammate, sailed high to keep it scoreless.
The Phoenix weren't lacking in quality. Mensah had a strike go begging just wide of the right post in the 31st, and Warriors keeper Ryan Miller made two top-drawer stops on Sierra with the furthest reach of his glove in the 35th and on Diego Rivas from distance in the 36th.
⚽️ AOA carries the D3 state to its student section pic.twitter.com/b6sw18bjaH
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
Despite a frenetic half, it remained deadlocked nil-nil.
That merely set the stage for the crossroads to intersect in the manner this side dreamed.
They didn't know what they had on Labor Day.
They know what they have following Championship Saturday.
"I've been in this school for three years, and have been with Coach Drago for three years as well," junior Giancarlo Toirac said. "We've been through tough paths, and sometimes, it didn't go the way for us we wanted it to. Losses. Ties. Wins. But this season, I just trust Coach, and Coach trusts me. I just give it my all. I would just tell them that three years at my school, I did it finally with my coach and my new teammates."
Added Caballero: "For me, it's quite the opposite. Three months ago, I didn't know that I was coming to the United States. I thought I was going to study in Spain and play there. This opportunity happened, and I was a little bit scared to take it. But I said, 'It's going to be worth it.' I think there is no better end."
And Mensah, pausing while visibly emotional: "It's wonderful. It's a very, very big privilege to be in the United States especially, at this school Andrews Osborne. It's a very good school. There's very good people in this school. What I would tell my kids (one day) is take care of your opportunities. Quitters are losers. But winners never quit."
PHOTOS: Andrews Osborne vs. Worthington Christian boys soccer, Nov. 11, 2023
⚽️ AOA breaks huddle following its 2-1 D3 state final win over Worthington Christian pic.twitter.com/4l8P8XWWgp
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
⚽️ AOA coach Drago Dumbovic discusses a 2-1 D3 state final win over Worthington Christian pic.twitter.com/JNHxxddGVg
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
⚽️ AOA coach Drago Dumbovic believes his boys side became "men" on their D3 state title run pic.twitter.com/xmgbvrszJy
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) November 12, 2023
