THUNDER BAY – With the number of chances the Thunder Bay Chill had on Friday night, they could have hit double digit goals.
Instead, they had to settle for a pair, including a spectacular bicycle kick off the outstretched, and upside down, foot of Edoardo Calzola in the 63rd minute, the Chill going on to defeat visiting RKC Third Coast 2-0, a crucial outcome in their bid to return to the USL League 2 playoffs for the first time since dropping the championship final in 2017.
Jamie Wynne scored Thunder Bay’s opening goal, beating the almost unbeatable RKC keeper, Chandler Hallwood, in the 54th.
But it was Calzola’s goal that had the 867 fans at Tbaytel Park at Chapples Field buzzing, the chance coming off a corner kick that was first handled by Chill defender Pierre Lurot before finding its way within reach of Calzola in the crowded RKC box.
“I felt it, I was there and I went for it,” said Calzola, who scored for the second straight match.
“We needed a goal. It was a tight game. I think we were on top of it. We were controlling it, but we needed a goal. We scored, we were happy. That’s the greatest hope for us. We kept our head down, we kept grinding and we want to keep our work up. Our goal is not to win the season, it’s to go as far as possible and to get the title.”
Wynne, whose goal also came off a set play, heading it just over the line for the 1-0 advantage, was a bit in awe of his teammate’s talent.
“Spectacular is the word for it, I think,” Wynne said. “It was quality. I haven’t seen him do it like that before. I didn’t think he could jump that high, but it popped up and it was a great finish.”
Hallwood was the story of the opening 45.
He stood tall as the Chill unleashed a barrage of shots, including several on target, that he turned aside. Brandon Bermingham was more often than not his victim. He had a pair of point-blank shots, in the 20th and the 37th, that were fired right at Hallwood.
He also lined one that was headed for the top of the RKC net, only to be tipped away at the last second and over the crossbar, and the two teams remained scoreless.
Nathanael Sallah had his own adventures in the Thunder Bay net, but the post proved to be his friend late in the opening half, RKC’s Ethan Hoard just missing giving his team the lead by a matter of inches. Hoad also had a direct shot in the 49th, but the ball slid just wide of the Thunder Bay net, the score still 0-0 at the time.
Chill coach Tony Colistro, his team on a four-game win streak, said they’re still taking things one game at a time.
“This one was hard work. Our players really had to dig down for this one, but it was a good result. We came into the half and felt a little bit unlucky, but we just stuck with it, so it’s a really good sign,” said Colistro, his team set to hit the road for three this week, with St. Croix, Minneapolis and Rochester on the slate.
The win bumped the Chill a point ahead of RKC Third Coast (4-3-0) in the Deep North Division standings and into second place, a game behind FC Manitoba, who happen to be RKC’s next opponent, the two teams slated to play on Sunday.
Colistro said even though the season is only half over, he’s already watching the standings.
“You know where I want to be. They’re all important. Each win, every point is important right now.”
