The Willamette Valley Firebirds scored a 3-2 victory over the Yakima Reds before 125 people at Corvallis High School this past Friday night. The Reds, who took a convincing 4-1 win over the Firebirds last month, looked to put another beating on the Birds after scoring in the first minute. Greg Foisie played a ball behind the flat Firebird defense to send Jake Sagare in alone on keeper Bryan Hill. Sagare finished well and for some reason the quick start took a lot of energy out of the match.
The Birds took advantage of a Reds miscue when Nick Jensen's dangerous cross was nearly headed in by a Reds defender for an own goal. Reds keeper Shawn Tobias did well to keep the misdirected ball out of goal but Firebirds forward Jason Crevar poached the equalizer in the 13th minute. The Firebirds gained confidence and created enough pressure to earn a penalty kick in the 40th minute. Freddy Kummernes struck well and the Firebirds took a 2-1 lead into halftime.
Yakima gained a greater purpose after the half and pressured the Firebirds into a defensive shell long enough to allow high school sensation Santa Maria Rivera to shine on a 25 yard rocket that cleanly beat Hill low to the far post. Just three minutes later the Firebirds Jason Crevar scored the eventual game winning goal when a ball fell to his feet after teammate Peter Gail's dangerous run had been thwarted by the Reds defense.
The last half hour the Reds put a great deal of pressure on the Firebirds' defense. The Reds either shot wide or Bryan Hill came up with the big save for the Firebirds. The Firebirds next match will be June 16 in Seattle against the Selects while Yakima just return home for a match against the Cascade Surge.