League

Houston Stage
Spectators: 7836 (Terracing: 5878, Seating: 1802, VIP seats: 156) Houston Rockets's Troy Mitchell 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, Spirit Lake FC's Bailey Arthur got control of the ball when Troy Mitchell tried to sneak it across the goal line. Troy Mitchell could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 14th minute of the match, but Bailey Arthur made a huge save. Sterling House took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Quintin Bean, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 21st match minute, Spirit Lake FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Randolph Ragsdale to maneuver through the defense. In the 27th minute, Houston Rockets's Troy Mitchell ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Bailey Arthur. Bailey Arthur yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. Bennett Phillips fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bailey Arthur having to interfere. If Bennett Phillips had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Troy Mitchell let the left foot speak when in front of goal in the 47th minute shot 3-0 at rihgt post. 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 3-0.

After some careless play in the Spirit Lake FC defense, Bennett Phillips kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bailey Arthur. The Spirit Lake FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bailey Arthur should have stopped the shot. 64 minutes into the match, Spirit Lake FC's goal looked a bit too open when Troy Mitchell came free, but Bailey Arthur reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Bennett Phillips sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Bennett Phillips received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Bailey Arthur tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Troy Mitchell received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Bailey Arthur tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 72nd minute, Bennett Phillips managed to get in a good position for a shot. Houston Rockets's supporters rose to their feet, but Bennett Phillips was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bailey Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Bennett Phillips came up free with the goalie in the 81st minute, the Houston Rockets 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 Bennett Phillips couldn't finish the play. After a rather tough play, Spirit Lake FC's Hal Agoos got a free kick in the 85th minute. After having played for 86 minutes, Bennett Phillips managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Houston Rockets's supporters crossed their fingers, but Bennett Phillips was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 89th minute, Troy Mitchell 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. In the 93rd minute Troy Mitchell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bailey Arthur saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Houston Rockets walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.