League

Kearney
Spectators: 6723 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1723, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Fernando Sadler kicked off to start the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jeffrey Aguirre in the 6th minute of play forced Kearney FC's goalkeeper Alfredo Hightower to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 12 played minutes Kearney FC got a freekick which was hit by Josiah Thome. Alfredo Hightower made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Willard Hamby in the 14th minute of play. In the 15th minute, Lucien Huston 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. In the 18th minute, Aurelio Rivera reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Marcos Weldon. The goal made the score 1-0. Hal Richter kicked well hit freekick during the 20th minute of the match. In the 24th minute, Kearney FC's Fernando Sadler dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-0. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Jeffrey Aguirre in the 31st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Alfredo Hightower prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Jeffrey Aguirre sent away a hard shot on goal in the 38th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Lucien Huston fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alfredo Hightower having to interfere. Alfredo Hightower stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Jeffrey Aguirre's shot from short distance in the 44th minute. After having played for 47 minutes, Lucien Huston managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Apple Valley's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lucien Huston was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Lucien Huston made a kick off. In the 52nd minute Lucien Huston shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alfredo Hightower saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alfredo Hightower made an important save on a dangerous shot by Jeffrey Aguirre in the 53rd minute. Caleb Novak fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 56th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alfredo Hightower having to interfere. 62 minutes into the match, Aurelio Rivera had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Marcos Weldon. Apple Valley's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Aurelio Rivera was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-0. After 67 minutes, Josiah Thome mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Kearney FC and the Apple Valley players grew even worse after the yellow card. When the match had been going on for 69 minutes, Apple Valley's Willard Hamby got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Alfredo Hightower. Kearney FC's Fernando Sadler got a good chance for a goal in the 75th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Lucien Huston received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Alfredo Hightower tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Josiah Thome hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. If Jeffrey Aguirre had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 91st minute the ball was on its way in behind Kearney FC's goalkeeper Alfredo Hightower, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Kearney FC's Aurelio Rivera got a good chance for a goal in the 94th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Alfredo Hightower took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lucien Huston, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kearney FC were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Apple Valley for a fine match.