League Play-Off

Sagamore Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Sagamore AFC's Jacques Gann 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. After a rather tough play, Eau Claire United's Mario Parsons got a free kick in the 2nd minute. Ramon Correa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Jacques Gann's shot from short distance in the 4th minute. Robbie Ortega scored 0-1 in the 7th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Joey Bauer, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Riley Ambrose's late challenge caught a Sagamore AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Riley Ambrose helped the player get up and apologised. In the 9th minute, Riley Ambrose hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience was convinced that Simon Flint's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Joey Bauer was relentless in the 12th minute of the game. Jasper Wade's late challenge caught a Eau Claire United's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jasper Wade helped the player get up and apologised. After 19 played minutes Eau Claire United got a freekick which was hit by Mario Parsons. Sebastian McNair charged in rather forcefully in the 20th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Sebastian McNair the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Eau Claire United's Robbie Ortega got a good chance for a goal in the 29th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Eau Claire United's zone, Jacques Gann stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ramon Correa came out of the goal and Jacques Gann tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 38 minutes into the match, Robbie Ortega had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Joey Bauer. Sagamore AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Robbie Ortega was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. Dale Lord charged in rather forcefully in the 41st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Dale Lord the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 41st minute, Dale Lord hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joey Bauer made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Robbie Ortega in the 42nd minute of play. Sagamore AFC's Jasper Wade got his second yellow card of the match in the 42nd minute. The referee ordered Jasper Wade off the ground. After a rather tough play, Sagamore AFC's Jasper Wade got a free kick in the 43rd minute. After the first half Eau Claire United were leading 0-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Simon Flint made a kick off. After 52 played minutes Sagamore AFC got a freekick which was hit by Sebastian McNair. 53 minutes into the match, Sagamore AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Robbie Ortega came free, but Joey Bauer reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee felt a red card was in order, 54 minutes into the game, when Elias Hart put in a rough tackle. 55 minutes into the match, Robbie Ortega notched a goal, 0-4, to the right of Sagamore AFC's Joey Bauer. Joey Bauer was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 59th minute Simon Flint shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Joey Bauer saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Jacques Horner fell near the penalty area in the 60th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Sagamore AFC's protests and gave Jacques Horner a yellow card for diving instead. After 60 played minutes Sagamore AFC got a freekick which was hit by Jacques Horner. A collision led to Sagamore AFC getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Sebastian McNair hit a great ball. After 65 minutes of play, Eau Claire United's Joe Becerra made it 0-5 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Joey Bauer was left in no man's land by his defense there! Geoff Candido received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Joey Bauer tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 71st minute, Sebastian McNair hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Simon Flint in the 74th minute of play forced Sagamore AFC's goalkeeper Joey Bauer to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Robbie Ortega got free with Joey Bauer in the 76th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 79th minute, Dale Lord hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A sloppy throw-in by Geoff Candido in the 81st minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Sagamore AFC's Leon Childs. The throw-in from Geoff Candido in the 85th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Sagamore AFC's Leon Childs. Joey Bauer showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Simon Flint in the 90th minute of the match. 91 minutes into the game, Eau Claire United's Robbie Ortega nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Joey Bauer made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-6. 95 minutes into the match, Sagamore AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Simon Flint came free, but Joey Bauer reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 96th minute, Robbie Ortega ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Joey Bauer was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-7. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Eau Claire United walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.