Poly Kicks Garfield Out of Playoffs

An angel helped Poly High defeat Garfield, 2-1, in the quarterfinal round of the City Section soccer playoffs Tuesday.

With 10 minutes to play, forward Angel Marron fielded a corner kick, shuffled his feet and booted the ball past Garfield goalie Alfonso Gil to break a 1-1 tie.

“He’s my offense in the middle,” Poly Coach Frank Sandoval said about Marron. “He sets up the plays.”

Marron usually sets up the plays for forward Juan Carlos Veloz, the East Valley League’s leading scorer with 17 goals. But when Garfield concentrated on containing Veloz, Poly had to adjust.

“We try to work it to Veloz and if an opening occurs, we take it,” Sandoval said. “But if it doesn’t work, we try to get the ball to another guy.”

The first other guy was Poly forward Elber Navas, who took a pass deep in Garfield territory midway through the first half and, after some fancy footwork, kicked it past Gil’s outstretched hands to give Poly a 1-0 halftime lead.

Garfield (12-2-1) evened the score in the second half on Jorge Renteria’s breakaway goal. But four minutes later, Marron scored the game-winner.

“He’s had his share this year,” Sandoval said.

Poly outshot Garfield, 5-2, with Poly goaltender Jose Gutierrez ranging far from the goal box several times to head off a Garfield charge.

Poly (13-1-2) will play at home in the semifinal round at 2:30 p.m.Thursday against San Pedro, a 2-1 winner Tuesday over Chatsworth.