The 12U Ligers used teamwork to spread the ball around to create scoring chances for multiple players against Ottawa United.

The Ligers took advantage of their scoring opportunities to beat Ottawa United, 5-2, Saturday at Youth Sports Inc.

Ligers head coach Justin Kruger said the Ligers strong defensive play helped to create the offensive opportunities.

“I thought we played really well because we played team defense well,” Kruger said. “That made it much easier for us to move forward on offense to get chances at the goal.”

The Ligers didn’t start the game off with strong team defense, however. Ottawa United was the first team to notch a goal. Ottawa United forward Kaleb Devore took the ball down the left side of the field and cut across to the inside of the 18-yard box. Devore ripped a shot past the Ligers keeper for the first goal of the game.

The Ligers responded quickly. Using his laser beam-like left foot, winger Shane Willoughby scored from 20 yards out with a shot into the top of the goal.

Ottawa United didn’t want to go easily, and they showed their resiliency by taking the lead from the Ligers. Ottawa United winger Ian Paine started with the ball on the left sideline at midfield. He dished the ball off to a teammate and ran the give-and-go to perfection, getting the ball back 15 yards up field with no defenders in front of him. Paine then cut to the inside of the field and beat two more Liger defenders to slip the ball over the goal line.

The Ligers responded by tying the game before halftime. Ligers forward Nick Andrews scored the equalizer off solid defense from the back line. Andrews counterattacked Ottawa United and was able to beat their defense to tie the game at two goals apiece.

Ottawa Midfielder Shawn Turner, left, runs to help Dana Peterson as she dribbles upfield during their game against the Ligers on Saturday at Youth Sports Inc.

The Ligers used set pieces to pull away at the start of the second half. Their first goal came on a corner kick. The ball sailed into the goal box, but was slightly punched out by the Ottawa United goalkeeper. The ball didn’t quite clear the zone, and Ligers forward Jacob Caldwell tapped the ball into the goal on the broken play.

The next goal by the Ligers came from a corner kick as well. This time the play wasn’t broken up, and the Ligers scored on a one-timer from forward Cody Flitcraft. Andrews sent the corner kick into the box, and Flitcraft just tapped the ball past the keeper to give the Ligers a 4-2 lead.

The game ended with the second goal from Willoughby, whose final goal gave the Ligers five total goals scored by four different players.