League

Virginia Gardens Par
Spectators: 7722 (Terracing: 5792, Seating: 1776, VIP seats: 154) Virginia Gardens AFC's Merrill Devine 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. Zane Pollard fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Antony Leal having to interfere. With a little luck, MONTERREY's Merle Kincaid got control of the ball when Leroy Bernard tried to sneak it across the goal line. Houston Rudolph hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. Antony Leal made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Orlando Busch in the 14th minute of play. Monroe Puckett struck a weak shot in the 18th minute. Antony Leal didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for MONTERREY. Merle Kincaid took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Merrill Devine, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Merle Kincaid took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Merrill Devine, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 36th minute Virginia Gardens AFC were awarded a corner. Oren Warner went to the cornerflag to take it. If Leroy Bernard had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Omar Presley took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 46th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Antony Leal. Virginia Gardens AFC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Orlando Busch received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Antony Leal came out and tried to block the shot, but Orlando Busch slotted it home off the left post making it 0-1 in the 55th minute. Merrill Devine received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Merle Kincaid tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Orlando Busch had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Dave Mabry during the 66th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 66 played minutes Virginia Gardens AFC got a freekick which was hit by Dave Mabry. If Orlando Busch had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Leroy Bernard received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Merle Kincaid tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 74th minute, Leroy Bernard made a precise shot to the right of Merle Kincaid. MONTERREY's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Merrill Devine in the 80th minute of play forced MONTERREY's goalkeeper Merle Kincaid to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Leroy Bernard had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 95th minute Merrill Devine shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Merle Kincaid saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched MONTERREY eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.