Late goals end Downey’s CIF title bid
Downey players react after Newport Harbor scores their final goal in their CIF semi-final boys soccer game in Newport Beach on Saturday. Newport Harbor defeated Downey 2-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
NEWPORT – Downey High boys soccer, which was in the midst of its best playoff run in school history, ended its dream of a CIF-Southern Section title last Saturday with a 2-1 loss to host Newport Harbor.
However, the season might not be over, as the Vikings hope for an invite to the CIF State playoffs, as brackets will be released March 1 on the CIF State website.
It was a heart-breaker of an ending for Downey as they controlled most of the game but two late Newport Harbor goals in the last minutes of the game sealed their fate.
“It was a tough match and a great opponent and a team that is always fighting for a CIF title,” Downey coach Andy Contreras said. “I thought our boys really fought and we were minutes away from going on to the finals, but you never know what’s going to happen in the last minutes.”
It will be the second CIF championship appearance for the Sailers in the last three years, as they won a division 2 title in 2024. Newport Harbor also advanced to the division 3 semifinals in 2023.
“We applied for state and now we have to wait as we applied for state and hopefully we get in and find the same team back in the final,” Contreras added.
Top-seeded Downey took a 1-0 lead in the game in the second half, but with the score tied late in the game, Newport Harbor scored with seconds left to win the game and advance to the CIF Division 2 Championship game.
With the win, Newport Harbor (16-3-2) advanced to the CIF D2 Championship game Saturday (Feb. 28) against Bishop Amat (24-4-3), a 4-0 winner over Citrus Hill in the other semifinal.
Prior to the loss to Newport Harbor, the Vikings had lost only one game since mid -December, as they reeled off 13 wins and five ties against only one loss (Gahr, 3-1) in just over two months.
In the first half, Downey senior forward Diego Garita had a goal called back due to offsides, but he came through in the second half.
“The first half was a battle, and I always told my boys, if the score was 0-0 and they didn’t score on us, we are in complete control,” Contreras said. “We came out in the second half a little bit stronger on the ball in possession and got one in working on the lines and I’m very proud of that.
“But you got to stay focused the whole entire game, not just in those moments.
For us being where we got, we’re very excited and very proud of our boys.”
With the score tied 0-0 at the half, Downey (15-5-6) came out and took the first lead of the game, 1-0, on a goal by Garita after a free kick in the 60th minute.
Downey had a free kick on their side around the 30-yard line.
On the ball was senior midfielder Alessandro Guzman, who sent a cross into their box which cleared it to one of the Downey players, who then found sophomore captain Vicente Chavez, Jr. running behind on the right flank.
Vicente then dribbled down the line and crossed the ball to junior Eddie Gonzales, Jr. who then laid off Garita for a one time finish to the lower right past Newport Harbor goaltender Jack Shepherd for the 1-0 lead.
“It’s kind of a blur right now, but I crossed it into my teammate, Eddie (Gonzalez, Jr.) and he took a touch and Garita just ripped a shot, bottom left and banger,” Chavez, Jr. said.
“For 78 minutes, I would say they played us out of the park,” said Newport Harbor coach Ignacio “Nacho” Cid, to the Newport Daily Pilot. “I tip my hat. That team was very well organized, great individual players. That’s (soccer). You do everything right, a little thing happens and it just turns everything around. I’m super happy for the boys, but you have to tip your hat to that team (Downey).
“You try to throw the kitchen sink at them, give them everything you’ve got.”
Shepherd made 10 saves for the Sailers.
Newport Harbor tied the game with a penalty kick goal after a controversial handball call near the beginning of stoppage time.
Sailers senior Ali Omar scored after the ball went off the fingertips of Downey sophomore goalie Isaiah Villagrana.
“We were doing amazing until that penalty that just got us a setback and just got in our heads and then that’s how they got in between us and got that last goal on us,” Chavez, Jr. said. “Our season so far has been amazing and feel like we had the best season in Downey history and I’m really proud of our guys and it’s just the culture we had, and we created it from the bottom up.
“The Culture that our coaches brought in started and everybody just followed through it and pushing each other to be the best that we can be. Everybody played their role and did the best they could do.”
Just a few minutes later in stoppage time, after a throw-in Brandon Markert gave Newport Harbor a 2-1 lead and minutes later the officials blew the final whistle to end the game.
“We lost the momentum a little bit and I think we got a little overwhelmed with the situation,” said Contreras, of the come-from-behind goals by the Sailers. “We give them the credit, they worked for it and got it done.
“A big weakness for us was everything in the air and that’s how they got their goals (Saturday) and that’s just how the game works.”
Contreras continued, saying, “I take my hat off to them and I’m very proud of them,” he said. “I will always say this that they made me a better coach this year and I’m very, very proud and honored to have been part of their success this year.
“We stuck to our plan, and we believed and that’s been our turning point since our last loss in league (Gahr). It made us a little stronger mentally and got us this far.”