League

Shizuru Kuwabara ST
Spectators: 7695 (Terracing: 5772, Seating: 1770, VIP seats: 153) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Domenico Cardoso started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute, Orlando Blanchard hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 4 minutes into the match, Domenico Cardoso dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Rex Ambriz, 1-0. In the 12th minute Riley Thurston shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alec Mann saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 14th minute, Domenico Cardoso fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Rex Ambriz, passed just outside the right post. When the match had gone on for 14 minutes, Bryan Dickinson put it in 2-0 from a short distance just to the right of Rex Ambriz. Alec Mann took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Riley Thurston, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Merrill Jean might have been able to make a better finish in the 20th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Alec Mann. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Merrill Jean ran back to his position shaking his head. Alec Mann made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Riley Thurston in the 22nd minute of play. Riley Thurston received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 24th minute. Alec Mann tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Riley Thurston sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The supporters of Tara Hills booed when REFTS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tad Rush didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Domenico Cardoso in the 38th minute of play forced Tara Hills's goalkeeper Rex Ambriz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Domenico Cardoso had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Tara Hills's Duke Latham got a free kick in the 42nd minute. Bryan Dickinson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 47th minute Emilio Justice shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rex Ambriz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Riley Thurston was the one to do the kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Riley Thurston in the 52nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Alec Mann saved REFTS from getting behind. If Domenico Cardoso had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lucien Comer charged in rather forcefully in the 57th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Lucien Comer the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 58th minute of the match Marshall Doe sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Rex Ambriz skillfully saved the ball. After 62 played minutes REFTS got a freekick which was hit by Jermaine Quintero. After 65 minutes, Merrill Jean made it 2-1 with a short kick to the right side. REFTS's Alec Mann tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bryan Dickinson in the 69th minute of play forced Tara Hills's goalkeeper Rex Ambriz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. REFTS's Domenico Cardoso got a good chance for a goal in the 72nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Bryan Dickinson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 75th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rex Ambriz having to interfere. After 76 minutes, Bobby Noble mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the REFTS and the Tara Hills players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to REFTS getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Bobby Noble hit a great ball. Bryan Dickinson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rex Ambriz having to interfere. Riley Thurston received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Alec Mann tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tara Hills's Rex Ambriz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Domenico Cardoso in the 96th minute of play. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The REFTS fans cheered their team off the field, for while Tara Hills had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.