Project 51O returned from Southern California with two wins under its belt, grinding out a gritty 3-2 comeback win against Ventura County Fusion on Friday, and seeing out a 2-1 result against FC Golden State Force on Sunday. Fresh off representing El Salvador at the U-20 CONCACAF Championship, Oakland Roots academy contract signee Javi Mariona marked his return with a bang, tallying 2 goals and 2 assists in the two matches.
In the first match of the weekend, 51O faced serious adversity when they went behind by a goal after a dubious penalty call in the 33rd minute. After what was certainly a rousing half-time speech from coach Mikey Hannon, 51O came out guns blazing in the second half. After Julian Valle leveled the match in the 68th minute, Mariona gave 51O a lead it would not relinquish, whipping a brilliant freekick into the top corner from 30 yards out, just two minutes later. After some brilliant work from Mariona to wriggle past two Fusion defenders, he slid a pass to 15-year-old Javi Bedolla-Vera, who tapped home, teeing off a vigorous celebration with 51O’s bench. Despite a consolation goal for the Fusion in stoppage time, the 51O backline held firm, escaping Ventura College with all three points.
After only one day of rest, 51O traveled an hour south to Covina District Field Stadium, where bottom of the table FC Golden State Force awaited. It did not take long for 51O to break the deadlock; brilliant wing play from Mariona on the left saw him leave a Golden State defender in the dust, before he squared the ball for Luis Saldaña to tap home with aplomb in the 23rd minute of the match. Just six minutes later, Mariona would administer the coup de grâce. After Javi Ruiz-Duran slid him through with a clever through ball, Mariona found himself one versus one with the same fullback he beat for his assist. After a sole roll and a scissor, Mariona cut inside and unleashed a rasping curling effort into the bottom corner of the net, leaving Golden State’s goalkeeper a mere spectator. Though Golden State would find the back of the net in the 57th minute, 51O would bolt the door shut, securing the three points and an invaluable two win away weekend.
The pair of wins moves Project 510 into sole possession of first place in USL League Two’s Southwest Division with playoffs only two weeks away. 51O will return home to Ohlone College this weekend for a tilt against Davis Legacy, scheduled for Sunday, July 10th.
