League

Murphy’s Park
Spectators: 7515 (Terracing: 5715, Seating: 1750, VIP seats: 50) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Ben Blanco made the kick off which started today's match. After a defensive mix-up in Sputnik VII's zone, Thomas Bongailas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Toivo Puistola came out of the goal and Thomas Bongailas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. John Gulia, 9 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Ben Blanco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ben Blanco received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Toivo Puistola tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Bjorn Herrera received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 16th minute. Toivo Puistola tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mario Seracino's late challenge caught a Sputnik VII's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mario Seracino helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Sputnik VII booed when Murphy FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mario Seracino didn't get a good kick on the ball. Murphy FC's Roberto Calleja played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nathan Bongailas in the 23rd minute of play. After 25 minutes, Bjorn Herrera mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Murphy FC and the Sputnik VII players grew even worse after the yellow card. Bjorn Herrera hit a great freekick 25 minutes into the match. When Nathan Bongailas came up free with the goalie in the 30th minute, the Sputnik VII fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Nathan Bongailas couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kyle Stafrace in the 34th minute of play forced Murphy FC's goalkeeper Roberto Calleja to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 37th minute, Nathan Bongailas 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. Roberto Calleja took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nathan Bongailas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Bjorn Herrera kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. Roberto Calleja took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kyle Stafrace, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Kyle Stafrace was the one to do the kick off. In the 53rd minute Kyle Stafrace shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Roberto Calleja saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Murphy FC's Roberto Calleja played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kyle Stafrace in the 57th minute of play. Nathan Bongailas recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 60th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When Murphy FC's Ben Blanco in the 68th minute got a chance for a shot 68th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Sputnik VII's goalie prevented a goal. With a little luck, Murphy FC's Roberto Calleja got control of the ball when John Tufignio tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 79th minute, Nathan Bongailas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Sputnik VII's supporters rose to their feet, but Nathan Bongailas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Roberto Calleja breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Roberto Calleja made an important save on a dangerous shot by Nathan Bongailas in the 81st minute. If Ben Blanco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Murphy FC's Bjorn Herrera quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Thomas Montalto, made in the 86th minute of the game. Roberto Calleja showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kyle Stafrace in the 88th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by John Tufignio in the 90th minute of play forced Murphy FC's goalkeeper Roberto Calleja to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Murphy FC getting a freekick after 92 minutes play. Brian Axiak hit a great ball. Ben Blanco received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 95th minute. Toivo Puistola tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Nathan Bongailas came up free with the goalie in the 98th minute, the Sputnik VII fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Nathan Bongailas couldn't finish the play.