The Saugus boys soccer team defeated Danvers at the Christie Serino Jr. Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, 2-0.
Senior Max Anajjar scored in each half – both from short distance – to lead the Sachems to their fourth home win of the season.
Less than five minutes in, Saugus captain Alejandro Ortega crossed to Anajjar in the box, but his shot was denied.
Saugus was effective with its short passes and off-ball movement to create space.
“We prioritize keeping the ball. Everything’s a matter of time. We keep the ball, we move it, we’re going to put the ball in,” Saugus Head Coach Guillermo Sepulveda said. “We don’t go for the quick shot all the time.”
The ball stayed on Saugus’ end for most of the first half. Sachems’ forwards were crafty with their dribbling – and always looking upfield for teammates – forcing Danvers’ midfielders to recover behind the play.
“They’ve grown up together. They’ve played ball in town, Sepulveda said. “A lot of them are a product from Saugus soccer from when they were little kids. And practice, we just practice together.”
Danvers’ forwards rarely got possession – and when they did – the Sachems instilled pressure. Anajjar’s defense stopped a Danvers chance early, timing Connor Ditomaso’s cross to kick the ball out of bounds.
Through 15 minutes, two contested shots from Danvers’ Jonathan Ditomaso were the only shots on goal.
Anajjar scored to put the Sachems up, 1-0. After a scrum in the box, the ball rolled to Anajjar in front of the right post who kicked it low into the net.
“Clean up crew – that’s what they call me. Always there for the rebound every time,” Anajjar said.
The halftime score favored Saugus, 1-0.
The Sachems’ Nicholas Alves had the first chance of the second half. He received a cross in front of the goal – an arms-length from the goalkeeper – but the ball deflected off of him out of bounds. Anajjar had the ball on a two-on-one moments later, but his shot was denied.
Saugus’ Cam Soroko scored on a header with around 33 minutes remaining, but was called offside.
The first 10 minutes of the half were all Saugus. The Sachems’ passes were more accurate in the second half, and their slower pace allowed for more time to make decisions in the offensive zone.
Danvers struggled in the midfield from the start, but especially in the second half – losing individual battles that resulted in Saugus gaining time of possession.
At the 17:07 mark of the second half, Anajjar scored to extend Saugus’ lead to 2-0. Off a corner, he timed the pass to score just inches from the net.
Minutes later, the Sachems’ William Lopez applied pressure and stole the ball in the box to create a two-on-one, but his fastbreak partner, Octavio Lima, couldn’t score.
Saugus continued its short-passing offense and kept the ball away from Danvers. The final score read 2-0, Saugus. The Sachems return home on Thursday, Oct. 20 against Greater Lawrence (5-5) at 6:30 p.m.
“Don’t walk into a game expecting to win. Go 100 percent at all times,” Anajjar said.
