You wouldn’t expect the bracket’s top-seed to need double overtime to get out of the first round, but that’s what happened at Millikan on Thursday, as the Rams survived a scare from Palos Verdes, going on to win 1-0 thanks to Robert Burgos’ 96th-minute game-winner.

“We just looked flat today,” said Millikan coach Rod Petkovic after the game.  “You can’t be flat in CIF, or you’re done.  We did not play well.”

The lone bright spot on the Rams’ performance—besides getting the win—was the always reliable Jorge Becerra, who notched his 19th shutout of the season with a spectacular 14-save performance, including diving tips to the crossbar and both posts.  With perhaps any other goalkeeper in the Southern Section, Millikan would probably have lost by a goal or two before even reaching extra time.

Palos Verdes played a very smart game, compensating for a speed deficiency with excellent spacing and positioning, breaking up the flow of a Millikan offense that’s missing top scorer Andres Montes (out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his hip).  Palos Verdes got more chances than the Rams in every frame, pushing Becerra to his limit before finally his offense let him off the hook.

Though Millikan hadn’t strung a good chance together for much of the game, the goal was a thing of beauty.  Daniel Delgadillo, who was working hard down the right line all game, sent an airy cross from the elbow of the box, over the head of striker Luis Garcia, who drew the Palos Verdes defenders.  The extra space gave Robert Burgos all the room he needed to boot in the game-winner, igniting the stands and drawing his teammates to him like iron fillings to a magnet, for a rowdy postgame celebration worthy of the playoffs.

Petkovic and his team’s fans will have to hope the on-field performance is just as worthy when they travel to face Harvard-Westlake in the second round on Tuesday.  “I’m glad to have another game to play,” said Petkovic.  “But if they play like that again, we’ll be done.”