This weekend, the Tequesta Trace Park in the City of Weston, was the site of the 2018 FUTSOC ENIGMA Friendlies, hosting storied clubs from overseas – PLAYPRO Academy 2001 from Montevideo, Uruguay and CIEX Sports Academy 2000 from Guayaquil, Ecuador, as well as local powerhouse Juventus FC 2001, along with our own resident team – FUTSOC ENIGMA Reserves 2002.

Structured into a four-team format – two semi-finals, a 3rd place match and the Championship match, the four teams were pitted so that the foreign visiting teams each played a local squad. In the opening matches, the strong, older CIEX Sports Academy 2000 squad was pitted against our younger FUTSOC ENIGMA Reserves 2002, in a match which saw two strong opponents battle up and down the field and hold to a 1::1 halftime result. The second half, saw the talented opponent take more control of the midfield, generating dangerous runs which eventually found their way to three second have goals. With only 11 players in attendance due to school commitments for our local boys, the physical output was simply too great to hold off the strong opponent for an entire match. However, in the final quarter of the contest, FUTSOC ENIGMA Reserves 2002 found the net on a breakaway to draw closer to 2::3. A final tally at game end, netted a final victory for our talented guests from South America and a final score of 2::4.

In the other semi-final match, Juventus FC 2001 received the powerful squad from Uruguay – PLAYPRO Academy 2001. In what proved to be an excellent, technically solid match. The visiting team struggled with the local powerhouse at the start of the match, finding the local team’s speed and tactical structure very complex. Gradually, adjusting to the opponent’s game play, the talented visitors adapted and adjusted, however, by then the game was out of hand with a resulting in a 4::1 victory by the strong Juventus FC 2001 squad.

In the 3rd place match, our sister team from Uruguay – PLAYPRO Academy 2001 met our young, talented and by now, depleted team in what was a solid match from the outset. Ending the first half with a 1::1 tie, the match was tight and hotly contested. However, in the second half, with another player off due to injury, our boys played with 10 against a very strong PLAYPRO Academy 2001 and in the end succumbed by the score of 1::4.

In the Championship match, Juventus FC 2001 was pitted against CIEX Sports Academy 2000 in a final which promised to be very contested, as both teams were technically proficient, dynamic and very physical. A struggle of a match for both sides, the CIEX Sports Academy 2000 boys jumped ahead 1:0 on a breakaway and cross to the box for a tap in. Juventus FC 2001 responded with the equalizer a few minutes later…and a 1::1 tie at halftime. The second half saw both teams make penetrating runs and physically contest every ball on both ends of the field and finally the CIEX Sports Academy 2000 boys broke away and added a tally to up the score to 2::1. At this point, CIEX Sports Academy 2000 was taking command of the match and it looked like they would take a greater lead. However, a strong stand by the stout Juventus FC 2001 defense held the opponent at bay and countered with a lightning counterattack to even the match at 2::2. With minutes remaining in the match and everything riding on a mistake by either side, CIEX Sports Academy 2000 finally broke though on a dispossessed ball by the opponent recovered at the midfield and the final shot on goal for a 3::2 victory over the proud local side and the capture of the Championship match of the 2018 FUTSOC ENIGMA Friendlies.

Congratulations to all participating clubs and our great appreciation for your having made this event a great success. Over a dozen scouts present were rewarded with solid matches and thus presented an abundance of recruitment options for college-oriented student athletes. Our sincerest appreciation for all who helped make this event such a great success