League

Thunderdome
Spectators: 7682 (Terracing: 5762, Seating: 1767, VIP seats: 153) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Jeff Valentin got the match started through his kick off. When Vern Sheffield came up free with the goalie in the 4th minute, the Tampa Bay 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 Vern Sheffield couldn't finish the play. The supporters of Tampa Bay booed when America FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 5 match minutes in a wonderful position. Federico Rocha didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in America FC's zone, Vern Sheffield stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Clayton Hodges came out of the goal and Vern Sheffield tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 9th match minute, Tampa Bay was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aldo Brooks to maneuver through the defense. Vince Bowden's late challenge caught a Tampa Bay's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Vince Bowden helped the player get up and apologised. In the 11th match minute, America FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vince Bowden to maneuver through the defense. America FC's Clayton Hodges played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vern Sheffield in the 13th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Marshall Arredondo got free with Clayton Hodges in the 15th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Fernando Escobedo kicked well hit freekick during the 17th minute of the match. America FC's Clayton Hodges proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 20th minute of the match, managed to save America FC from getting a goal against them. Jeff Valentin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Willy Laird fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Miles Roy having to interfere. Clayton Hodges showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vern Sheffield, who was totally free with the ball in the 40th minute. After a defensive mix-up in America FC's zone, Marshall Arredondo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Clayton Hodges came out of the goal and Marshall Arredondo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 43rd minute, Willy Laird ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Miles Roy was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Vern Sheffield made a kick off. Vern Sheffield received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Clayton Hodges tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Tampa Bay getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Vern Sheffield hit a great ball. Vern Sheffield recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 62nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Marshall Arredondo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Clayton Hodges took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vern Sheffield, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Clayton Hodges showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vern Sheffield in the 68th minute of the match. Willy Laird sent away a hard shot on goal in the 70th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 72nd minute Jeff Valentin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Miles Roy saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Marshall Arredondo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After some careless play in the America FC defense, Vern Sheffield kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Clayton Hodges. The America FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Clayton Hodges should have stopped the shot. When the match clock showed 79 minutes, the score became 2-2 when Willy Laird sped through Tampa Bay's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Miles Roy. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jeff Valentin in the 83rd minute of play forced Tampa Bay's goalkeeper Miles Roy to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Miles Roy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jeff Valentin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 86th minute, Reggie Wise hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Miles Roy made an important save on a dangerous shot by Vince Bowden in the 89th minute. Oswaldo Ali hit a great freekick 89 minutes into the match. In the 92nd minute Vern Sheffield shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Clayton Hodges saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Vern Sheffield fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Clayton Hodges having to interfere. Willy Laird received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 98th minute. Miles Roy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.