Honolulu United Wins National Over-40 Title
By John Fink

With numerous injuries (Lloyd, Bomber, Keith, Bill) and absentees (Pete Gibson, Malcolm Yee), it looked like the 2004 Veteran's Cup could be a short one for the mighty United contingent. But with some strong additions including Jeff from Ohio, Glenn from Australia, and a few additions from local teams, the United contingent found its form early on and steamrolled its way to a national title.

Game # 1: A bizarre first half with adrenaline flow rushes and strange occurrences resulted in a 3-3 draw with Sacramento. When things finally settled down in the 2nd half, neither team could add to the prolific first-half scoring, with the Sacramento goalie saving three near-breakaway gems, and the score remained 3-3. Sub Coach Keith Ridley, sidelined with a shoulder separation, tried to keep the multitudes happy during his free-subbing ways in place of Coach Lloyd. "Tie one for the Skipper" replaced "Win one for the Gipper" on this opening day draw.

Game # 2 was a 4-1 win over Houston, as United came out strong in the 2nd half to blitz the tiring Houston squad which had limited subs and even more limited scoring chances. Houston, we had a problem, but it was solved with a 2nd half flurry and a much-needed win.

Game # 3 (and a shot at the semi-finals) found United all over a game Maui squad, again using an offensive onslaught in the 2nd half to completely dominate a 5-1 win, a win which propelled United into the tourney semi-finals as the top seed from its pool as Maui had no wowie. The semi-final was played against I.O.U., an Iowa/Oregon team which vanquished our United troops in the 2003 semi-finals by a 4-1 score. While not as nasty as they were in 2003, the I.O.U. squad (with many Darth Vader impersonators on the field) could not handle the swarming attack of United, as once again United upped its goal output by notching 7 goals in a 7-0 victory. Vaiete's surprising last-minute 2-3 loss to Sacramento in the other simultaneously played semi-final ensured a United/Sacramento rematch in the finals.

The magnificent trek into the Stadium at Waipio at 8am on Sunday morning inspired yet one last Herculean effort by the United armada, as even a late first half goal by Sacramento's one-man offense could not dent the spirit of our aging warriors. With halftime speeches hitting every cliché known to man, United knew once again that the 2nd half would provide salvation. A diving header goal by Ben Bystrom, followed by a Bystrom rebound off a Tom Watson shot 10-minutes later provided United with the lead and the championship momentum, and Chris Kumagai's miraculous, curling 30-yard lob shot culminated the scoring. The crowd of 27,452 went wild (somewhere, just not at Waipio), as United celebrated a national title in the Men's 40+ 1st Division.

Tears and beer flowed, as players "united" on and off the field, celebrated the win, the effort, the pulled muscles, and the 30-years that some have played together or against one another. An inspiring tale for young and old, of a group of men overcoming adversity, lack of ability (nah, nah), flab, and the forces of nature and time to succeed where others have failed so often before. Even the cheesy, stamped medals looked like gold glimmering in the 90-degree heat at Waipio on June 28, 2004, as United claimed its rightful place atop the soccer world once again. Wilmington, North Carolina and sand gnats galore are now calling on this squad in 2005 as reigning champs...