League

FC Ukuleles
Spectators: 5075 (Terracing: 4045, Seating: 1025, VIP seats: 5) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Lenny Monroe took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Marc Mathis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thomas Archer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jarod Godwin during the 19th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Des Plaines River Rats getting a freekick after 19 minutes play. Jarod Godwin hit a great ball. Sonny Schulz charged in rather forcefully in the 26th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Sonny Schulz the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. 38 minutes in the game, Thomas Archer dribbled his way through the penalty area and after maneuvering past an opponent, drilled a quick shot at the goal. The ball looked like it was going in, but it was hit a bit too hard and flew over the goal. 45 minutes into the match, Dogs FC's goal looked a bit too open when Lenny Monroe came free, but Esteban Carter reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 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 1-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Thomas Archer was the one to do the kick off. When Marc Mathis came up free with the goalie in the 51st minute, the Dogs FC 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 Marc Mathis couldn't finish the play. Vince Velazquez showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Marc Mathis in the 54th minute of the match. If Thomas Archer had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 64 minutes, Blair Greenwood mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Dogs FC and the Des Plaines River Rats players grew even worse after the yellow card. 64 minutes into the game, one of Dogs FC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 66th minute there was a penalty for Des Plaines River Rats. Sylvester Cunningham stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Esteban Carter. 1-1. In the 68th match minute, Des Plaines River Rats was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rene Ng to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 69th minute, Marc Mathis managed to get in a good position for a shot. Dogs FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Marc Mathis was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Vince Velazquez breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 72nd minute of the game. One of Des Plaines River Rats:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Dogs FC:s goal. When Thomas Archer came up free with the goalie in the 83rd minute, the Dogs FC 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 Thomas Archer couldn't finish the play. When Elliott Cameron fell near the penalty area in the 85th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Dogs FC's protests and gave Elliott Cameron a yellow card for diving instead. Thomas Archer took the ball and in the 89 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Vince Velazquez. Vince Velazquez dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-1. 94 minutes into the match, Dogs FC's Marc Mathis sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Vince Velazquez narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Vince Velazquez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marc Mathis in the 95th minute of play. When Glen Ewing came up free with the goalie in the 97th minute, the Des Plaines River Rats 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 Glen Ewing couldn't finish the play. In the 98th minute, Lenny Monroe 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. Glen Ewing recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 101st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Dogs FC's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.