League

Redan
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Brant Merritt made the kick off and thus started the match. Ronald Barrow acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 8th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Emanuel Solis. Robert Courtney's late challenge caught a USA Thunder's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Robert Courtney helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Azzurri's Robert Courtney got a free kick in the 9th minute. Ronald Barrow made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Brant Merritt in the 12th minute of play. Brant Merritt received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Ronald Barrow tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A.J. Rubin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 16th minute. Ronald Barrow tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Wyatt Jimenez during the 18th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Azzurri booed when USA Thunder was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 18 match minutes in a wonderful position. Wyatt Jimenez didn't get a good kick on the ball. After recieving a nice pass, Azzurri's Tyrone Blanton tried to score from far away in the 18th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Ronald Barrow took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Brant Merritt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 22 minutes into the match, A.J. Rubin had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ronald Barrow. USA Thunder's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that A.J. Rubin was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. In the 25th minute, Francis Hood hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of USA Thunder booed when Azzurri was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Emanuel Solis didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 27th minute Elton Mitchell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tad Stiles saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Azzurri's Brant Merritt got a good chance for a goal in the 28th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If A.J. Rubin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in USA Thunder's zone, Brant Merritt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ronald Barrow came out of the goal and Brant Merritt tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Azzurri's Brant Merritt slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Ronald Barrow. That made the score 2-0 after 36 minutes of play. Francis Hood might have been able to make a better finish in the 49th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tad Stiles. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Francis Hood ran back to his position shaking his head. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Elton Mitchell made a kick off. 54 minutes into the match, Azzurri's goal looked a bit too open when Elton Mitchell came free, but Tad Stiles reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Robert Courtney hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. If A.J. Rubin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ronald Barrow stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Brant Merritt's shot from short distance in the 67th minute. Francis Hood was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 72nd minute. USA Thunder's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Emanuel Solis during the 74th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The score was 2-1 after a penalty in the 75th minute, where USA Thunder:s Tyron Stewart tricked Azzurri:s Tad Stiles with a difficult ball by the left post. A.J. Rubin recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Ronald Barrow didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Brant Merritt went, in the 80th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-1 was the resulting score. In the 90th minute, Brant Merritt left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Azzurri fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 4-1. Wyatt Jimenez kicked well hit freekick during the 99th minute of the match. Azzurri's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.