It may not have been the performance Los Altos wanted, but it’s hard to argue too much with a 4-1 league win.
An exciting opening start saw Los Altos score just two minutes into the game against Fremont Wednesday before the Firebirds equalized, but the Eagles’ attack proved too much over the game, scoring just before the half with a rebound tap-in from forward Dylan Po and two more goals late in the second half.
Los Altos head coach Roberto Magellan noted while Los Altos should have scored quicker to not give Fremont hope and put the game out of reach, he was pleased the team is jelling together with his coaching style so early in the season as it works towards its goal of winning the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division.
“The hardest part for a high school coach is putting everything together and their talents together and blending into one team, and we don’t have much time for that,” Magellan said. “Since I coached them before, I coached them last year, and when they were on the junior varsity team, it’s been an easier year for me, and hopefully that’s going to translate into winning the championship and definitely going to CCS.”
Winning the league will require an attack that can score in multiple ways and often. Los Altos (6-2-3) is in second place and has scored three goals or more in five out of its 11 games this season, with winger Kapil Jakatdar providing the attacking spark with two of the team’s four goals in the win over Fremont (3-6-1). Jakatdar opened the scoring for the Eagles by rounding the keeper and finishing just two minutes in.
“I saw open space behind the defenders, called out to my teammate Raymond (Liu), he played a beautiful ball over the defense, and a simple one-on-one against the keeper, and I saw him coming out, took a touch around him and just finished,” Jakatdar said.
The left winger was also a large part of the buildup play on the second goal, dribbling past the defense and firing in a cross that eventually led to a goal on a rebounded shot from Po. After forward Eddy Lemus scored a penalty for Los Altos, Jakatdar made another run behind the defense and scored his second goal, a chip over the goalkeeper with six minutes left. Jakatdar found open space behind the defense and received the ball with the goalkeeper closing in on him. Instead of trying to dribble around the keeper, Jakatdar calmly lofted it over the keeper and into an empty net.
“During practices, our team definitely plays over the top a lot, so in practice, we are always practicing those finishes,” Jakatdar said.
Magellan praised Jakatdar for being good with his feet and fast with the ball while dribbling.
“Kapil has skills,” Magellan said. “He has a good shot and a good left foot, and what he did today was great, with the keeper coming out and just chipping it over the keeper; these are things he brings to his repertoire of skills.”
Magellan said the team’s biggest strength is its technical ability, particularly in the midfield, controlling possession through midfielder Jonah Altschuler while also having defenders who play a possession style. The Eagles have speedy runners up front in Jakatdar and James Taylor when they need to play direct, along with a free-kick specialist in senior defender Raymond Liu.
“We have players that have different characteristics, and they can be used at times when we need more possession or more of a running game,” Magellan said.
Los Altos (6-2-3) has only lost once in the league to first-place Mountain View and twice overall this season, with Magellan hopeful the Spartans will drop enough points throughout the season to ensure senior night in February against Mountain View gives them a chance to win the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division. The Spartans are 3-0-1 in league, with Los Altos 2-1-1.
“Hopefully, they are going to lose a point here or there, and hopefully, we are going to do our job,” Magellan said. “Senior night is against Mountain View, so I’m hoping we will have a chance to clinch the title, but now we are dependent on other teams taking points off Mountain View before that happens.”
