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In the 40th minute, Jeorgio Kocevski led a counterattack from the left wing. Kocevski had numbers flooding forward into the attack as he reached Clemson’s defensive third. Kocevski directed a ball out wide to Felipe D’Agostini, who took a cut infield at the top of the 18-yard box, knocking the ball through the defenders’ legs. Kocevski continued his run infield and D’Agostini poked the ball to him.

With the defense scrambling, Daniel Diaz-Bonilla was free on the right side. Kocevski slipped the ball to Diaz-Bonilla who had plenty of time and space. Diaz-Bonilla unleashed a strike with just too much power, deflecting off the top of the crossbar.

Diaz-Bonilla’s chance was a golden opportunity to put his team in front just before half, but the effort went wasted. Missed chances have been a common theme for No. 10 Syracuse (6-3-4, 2-1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) this season and the trend continued in its 1-1 draw with No. 21 Clemson (8-3-2, 3-2-1 ACC). SU’s chances were scarce — registering just five shots and two on target — but when they presented itself, Syracuse failed to capitalize.

“We want that one back,” Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre said about Diaz-Bonilla’s missed shot. “(Diaz-Bonilla) did provide us some energy today. He just wriggled away and I put money on him to score that.”

Diaz-Bonilla’s chance was the clearest opportunity of the first 45 minutes and would’ve given Syracuse all the momentum heading into half. Instead, the score remained level and SU’s troubles in front of goal continued. It’s been evident this season that Syracuse’s offense has been inconsistent. The Orange have struggled to break down low defensive blocks to create chances and when opportunities materialize, they’ve failed to put them away. Before its game against Clemson, Syracuse had a 31.7% shots-on-target rate, the 3rd -worst in the NCAA.

Heading into the Clemson game, Syracuse ranked seventh in the ACC in goals per game (1.66) and eighth in the conference in shots (161). In its 2-1 loss to Temple, the Orange registered 15 shots, but just two of them were on target. The Owls’ win against the Orange was their second of the year. Against a team like Clemson, which allows just under a goal per game, Syracuse needed to be ruthless.

“It’s tough in any game to get into the final third to create good shots,” Kocevski said. “They’re a really good defensive team, they have good defensive block and I thought we did well when we did get in there…but it is tough to get those areas.”

In the 51st minute, Syracuse was punished for not being clinical. Gabriel Mikina broke up a Clemson attack at the top of the box, but got the ball caught under his feet. Mikina’s attempted clearance was blocked by Alex Meinhard. Meinhard stuck his foot out, deflecting the ball into the path of Arthur Duquenne, who slid the ball past goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham to put Clemson up 1-0.

Less than a minute later, Syracuse tried responding. Nicholas Kaloukian cut in from the right side, firing a shot on his weaker left foot from outside the box which was easily saved by Joseph Andema.

In the 62nd minute, D’Agostini chested the ball down, with Shawn Smart on his back. Smart slipped and D’Agostini drove forward, sliding a ball toward Mateo Leveque, who had plenty of space in front of him. Although Leveque lacked pace and urgency, getting closed down by Pape Mar Boye. Mar Boye deflected Leveque’s effort wide.

A few minutes later, Leveque had another chance. Kocevski stood over a free kick on the left side of the box and slid the ball low for Leveque who held his run. Leveque’s contact wasn’t clean and the attempt was blocked inside the six-yard box.

McIntyre joked that to help his team be more ruthless in front of goal he talked with Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola about getting Erling Haaland — the premier league’s top scorer — to Syracuse.

“(Clemson is) one of the top goal scoring teams in the country right now,” McIntyre said. “We’re not, but I do like who we are and the team we’re growing into. I don’t think we are made for 5-3 games.”

Syracuse nearly leveled the game in the 76th minute. Kocevski threw the ball into Kaloukian, who muscled his defender out of his way and fired a cross into the box. Three Clemson defenders missed the ball, which fell to Nate Edwards at the back post. Edwards appeared sure to level the game, but Andema closed down the space and made the save.

Throughout the game, Syracuse looked like it lacked creativity when getting to the offensive third, but it finally showed some quality in the 77th minute. Kocevski and Lorenzo Boselli played a give-and-go around Joran Gerbet. The defender brougt down Boselli at at the edge of the box as Gerbet was shown a yellow card.

Buster Sjoberg, who rarely takes free kicks in the offensive zone, stepped up. Sjoberg lifted the ball over the wall and under the crossbar with Andema rooted to his goal line as Syracuse tied the game at 1-1.

McIntyre said Sjoberg had been working with Carter Lincoln on free kicks and has been Syracuse’s “best ball striker.” Sjoberg’s goal was the last shot Syracuse had against Clemson.

Without Levonte Johnson and Nathan Opoku at the point of attack, Syracuse has failed to unlock defenses like it did last season. Boselli, Kaloukian and D’Agostini have all shown flashes, but haven’t provided consistent attacking play.

“We have good players so somethings gotta click,” Sjoberg said. “Once it clicks, we’re going to score a lot of goals. So, I think it’s coming.”

Published on October 15, 2023 at 5:59 pm

Contact Zak: zakwolf784254@gmail.com | @ZakWolf22