Vermont Green FC clinched a playoff spot in front of a completely sold out Virtue Field on Sunday. 2,500 boisterous fans backed the Green for the nervy 90 minutes, and their presence helped the side across the line in the end. Coming into the match, Western Mass Pioneers were on a 10-match winning streak, so the pressure was well and truly as high as could be for Adam Pfeifer’s men. Vermont’s quality from front to back, however, was too hot for the opposition, and their double digit run to handle.
It was always sure to be a blockbuster event given the magnitude of the fixture. 35-year-old Connor “Turbo” Tobin —who also works for the club’s front office — started the match, making his Vermont Green FC debut. Diba Nwegbo returned to the starting eleven, showing supporters how much his silky skills, eye for goal, and blistering pace were missed.
In the first half Nwegbo stole the show. He scored the only goal of the match from an insane angle to give the Green the lead at the end of the first 45. But it wasn’t just the most important goal in the club’s history that he contributed. Nwegbo looked threatening throughout the entire match, always the favorite to make the checkmate move in this chess match. From the very beginning the star forward looked to enjoy the pressure.
Turbo also had a superb match, contributing with big tackles and no nonsense clearances, commanding the Boys in Green with poise and experience. His backline allowed only one shot on goal from one of the best teams in the nation.
In the second 45 the Green managed the match tremendously. The young side around Turbo looked as if they had taken a leaf out of the mountain man’s book, and each of them aged 10 years (in a good way) to see out the clean sheet. The nerves of the supporters at Virtue Field were palpable, and that of the fans at home may have shaken neighborhoods around the world. The Vermont faithful probably aged a decade or so (not in a good way) seeing as the whole second half was up in the air, and anything could have happened. The men on the pitch looked cool as cucumbers though, and that was the difference. With the earth we care so deeply for shaking beneath them from the trembling supporters, they stood firm. Mentally and physically.
At full time everyone returned to their normal ages, growing a decade younger again. Fans entered the pitch to celebrate with the players, Nwegbo was stormed by excited young Vermonters, and Turbo chugged maple syrup and beer. It was a magical night at Virtue Field. Now, on to the playoffs.