By Alan DER OHANNESSIAN

The Falcons were focused. After drawing to a one-goal tie against Glendale, CV was determined to get back in the winning column.

At Tuesday’s soccer match, the Falcons got off to a strong start despite playing without one of their key midfielders, Vahe Nalbandian, who was benched after he had gotten a red card in the previous game.

It was up to his teammates to fill the void and they did.

Midfielder Eric Kesheshian passed to fellow midfielder Jaehoon Jung who moved it along to Pavle Atanackovic in the penalty box despite having the chance to take the shot himself. Atanackovic ended up shooting wide to the right side of Arcadia’s goalkeeper Andrew Chin.

Jung’s lack of initiative was an obvious frustration to head coach Kiel McClung. “Put that ball into the back of the net,” he instructed.

The ultimate Falcon victory was not apparent throughout the entire match. Atanackovic had a chance to score as he was inside the penalty box with a good look at the goal; however it struck wide near the right post of the goalkeeper.

But the team’s hard work paid off when they finally got on the board. Midfielder Jung was looking to pass to Micheal Shahnazarians, but it got to Atanackovic instead who was left unguarded. He shot the ball as Arcadia’s goalkeeper dived helplessly to the left side of the goal.

The Falcons also offered solid defense, allowing the Apaches only two shots on their goalkeeper Nick Ruiz.

Despite their lead the Falcons were upset with the referee’s calls as they headed into halftime up by one.

The Falcons returned to the field with their focus intact, increasing their goals. Captain and midfielder Alex Burger passed to fellow captain Salar Hajimirsadeghi who put it past the Apaches goalkeeper’s right, reminiscent to the first goal of the game.

Number three came thanks to a long pass from midfielder Hajimirsadeghi. His pass got to midfielder Jung who dribbled past the Apaches defender and landed it neatly to the upper-left side of the goalkeeper.

The Falcons scored their final goal in the last minutes of the match. A lob was sent to Atanackovic inside the penalty box, which he put with a header past the goalkeeper.

McClung said the key to the 4-0 victory was keeping control of the ball and defense.

“We were able to keep possession for longer periods … and our backboard [defenders] did a great job.”

The Falcons are now at 4-0-3 in league and next play at Burbank on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

  Arcadia, CV soccer