League

Dallas Big Ranch
Spectators: 7449 (Terracing: 5600, Seating: 1700, VIP seats: 149) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Casper Giles got the match started through his kick off. The supporters of Rancheros de Dallas booed when North Carolina Gauchos was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 5 match minutes in a wonderful position. Grant Croft didn't get a good kick on the ball. Aaron Faulkner made an important save on a dangerous shot by Nigel Trimble in the 10th minute. 14 minutes into the game, Deon Bruner was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. North Carolina Gauchos's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Rancheros de Dallas the free kick. After a defensive mix-up in North Carolina Gauchos's zone, Kasey Proctor stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Aaron Faulkner came out of the goal and Kasey Proctor tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. North Carolina Gauchos's Aaron Faulkner played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Casper Giles in the 17th minute of play. If Nigel Trimble had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ricardo McConnell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Florian Maher, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Aaron Faulkner showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Casper Giles, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. 28 minutes into the game, Casper Giles cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Aaron Faulkner was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Aurelio Ramirez charged in rather forcefully in the 31st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Aurelio Ramirez the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Casper Giles sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Aaron Faulkner stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Casper Giles's shot from short distance in the 38th minute. A collision led to North Carolina Gauchos getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Grant Croft hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, North Carolina Gauchos's Bryant Ferrell got a free kick in the 42nd minute. Kasey Proctor, 43 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Florian Maher stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 65 minutes into the game, one of Rancheros de Dallas:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Alexander Cano shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. Darnell Benoit fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ricardo McConnell having to interfere. In the 73rd match minute, Rancheros de Dallas was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Donald Johnston to maneuver through the defense. Darnell Benoit could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 83rd minute of the match, but Ricardo McConnell made a huge save. Darnell Benoit fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ricardo McConnell having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Florian Maher in the 87th minute of play forced Rancheros de Dallas's goalkeeper Ricardo McConnell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. North Carolina Gauchos's Darnell Benoit got a good chance for a goal in the 88th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ricardo McConnell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Florian Maher in the 93rd minute of play. North Carolina Gauchos's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.