League

Mount Arlington
Spectators: 5958 (Terracing: 5329, Seating: 625, VIP seats: 4) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Brant Merritt made the kick off which started today's match. 8 minutes into the game, Enrique Diamond was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Azzurri's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave S & N Fairway FC the free kick. In the 8th minute, Enrique Diamond hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 10th minute, Octavio Little reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Tad Stiles. The goal made the score 1-0. In the 14th minute, Rashad Dickens hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A.J. Rubin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 21 played minutes Azzurri got a freekick which was hit by Robert Courtney. Octavio Little fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tad Stiles having to interfere. Garry Cormier charged in rather forcefully in the 24th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Garry Cormier the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Tuan Hirsch took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Brant Merritt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 29 minutes into the match, S & N Fairway FC's goal looked a bit too open when Brant Merritt came free, but Tuan Hirsch reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A.J. Rubin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 39th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tuan Hirsch took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Brant Merritt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 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.

In the 53rd match minute, S & N Fairway FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rashad Dickens to maneuver through the defense. The audience was convinced that Octavio Little's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Tad Stiles was relentless in the 55th minute of the game. S & N Fairway FC's Marcellus Whitt got a good chance for a goal in the 57th 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 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 63 minutes, Brant Merritt managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Azzurri's supporters crossed their fingers, but Brant Merritt was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. With an all-out effort, Azzurri's Tuan Hirsch threw himself towards the right post 65 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Brant Merritt, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Garry Cormier kicked well hit freekick during the 71st minute of the match. Tuan Hirsch acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 71st minute, took the ball on the long shot from Tyrone Blanton. Brant Merritt received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Tuan Hirsch tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Azzurri's Andrew Gibbons got a free kick in the 78th minute. Tuan Hirsch made an important save on a dangerous shot by A.J. Rubin in the 80th minute. Brant Merritt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 89th minute of the match Tyrone Blanton shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Tuan Hirsch showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Tuan Hirsch made a fantastic save in the 90th minute, when A.J. Rubin sent off a good shot on target. Garry Cormier was shown his second yellow card after 94 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. After 95 played minutes, Azzurri's Tyrone Blanton shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Tuan Hirsch came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Azzurri reached it. The S & N Fairway FC support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.