League Play-Off

Hard Rock Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Orland AFC's Thomas Ayers started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. With a little luck, Orland AFC's Wilfredo Nash got control of the ball when Hal Gant tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 7th minute, Avery Zavala managed to get in a good position for a shot. Miami Rams's supporters rose to their feet, but Avery Zavala was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Wilfredo Nash breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Avery Zavala received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Wilfredo Nash tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Wilfredo Nash made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Avery Zavala in the 14th minute of play. The supporters of Miami Rams booed when Orland AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 15 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stevie Minton didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 19th minute, Avery Zavala managed to get in a good position for a shot. Miami Rams's supporters rose to their feet, but Avery Zavala was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Wilfredo Nash breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Thomas Ayers had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hal Gant sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 28 minutes into the match, Avery Zavala had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Wilfredo Nash. Orland AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Avery Zavala was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. Avery Zavala sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a little luck, Orland AFC's Wilfredo Nash got control of the ball when Noel Staton tried to sneak it across the goal line. 42 minutes into the match, Orland AFC's goalkeeper Wilfredo Nash had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Hal Gant. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Avery Zavala to make the kick off. Avery Zavala fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wilfredo Nash having to interfere. Lyle Galindo charged in rather forcefully in the 58th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Lyle Galindo the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The long shot by Aaron Levine in the 59th minute really tested Rupert Stover's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. When Albert Cantrell fell near the penalty area in the 61st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Miami Rams's protests and gave Albert Cantrell a yellow card for diving instead. Albert Cantrell kicked well hit freekick during the 61st minute of the match. 66 minutes into the match, Miami Rams's Avery Zavala sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Wilfredo Nash narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 67th minute, Hal Gant got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hal Gant in the 69th minute of play forced Orland AFC's goalkeeper Wilfredo Nash to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Avery Zavala received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 72nd minute. Wilfredo Nash tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 76 minutes, John Rodriquez managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Orland AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but John Rodriquez was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Avery Zavala received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 84th minute. Wilfredo Nash tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Hal Gant fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wilfredo Nash having to interfere. When the match had gone on for 87 minutes, Avery Zavala put it in 2-0 from a short distance just to the right of Wilfredo Nash. In the 95th minute of the game, Chuck Ward landed unfortunately after trying to head the ball, and pulled a muscle in the back, so badly that he had to leave the field. During the 95th minute of the match Albert Cantrell completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Albert Cantrell a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. After 97 played minutes Miami Rams got a freekick which was hit by Albert Cantrell. 98 minutes into the match, Orland AFC's Aaron Levine broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Miami Rams walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.