Bernardo Prego Excels In U.S. Open Cup Victory
Bernardo Prego Excels In U.S. Open Cup Victory
"Our game plan was just stick together, play with our hearts, and hopefully we can get a result because we knew that we had more talent and more quality than them. And we did, we got the job done.”
While Vermont Green FC’s goalscorers received a lot of praise on Tuesday evening, there was one player who battled for all 90 minutes.
Bernardo Prego was a constant threat on the right flank. He registered 68 touches and won all of his four tackles. The Portuguese outside back also had 12 recoveries and won 13 of 19 ground duels.
“He’s brilliant,” head coach Adam Pfeifer said. “A lot of these guys, they feel a little insulted that they haven’t gotten jobs yet in professional soccer and I think they gave an unbelievable account of themselves tonight.”
Prego did more than hold his own against the professionals on Lexington SC. He showed impressive ability on the ball as well as a calmness operating in his own third.
“Yeah, I think not only me, but all the guys, like we haven't played a single game since the last season,” the Sporting CP Academy product stated. “We haven't played over two months and we know that we were coming here and we were going to play against the team that is basically mid-season. Our game plan was just stick together, play with our hearts, and hopefully we can get a result because we knew that we had more talent and more quality than them. And we did, we got the job done.”
But the journey isn’t over for Prego and Vermont. The Green moved on to the next round and Prego is confident that the club can go far in the tournament.
“I think history was made and I’m so happy to be a part of it,” said the outside back. “I think we really deserved this win and I really really think that we can go far in this tournament because our team is really good.”