Official Cup

Khachatryan Center
Spectators: 169 (Terracing: 127, Seating: 39, VIP seats: 3) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Oséias Gerber made the kick off which started today's match. Marquis Kenny's late challenge caught a Sipo EC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Marquis Kenny helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Khachatryan's Marquis Kenny got a free kick in the 5th minute. Albert Paulíny fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carroll Hathaway having to interfere. A hard shot 15 in the game by Merlin Castro from a close distance when the talented Carroll Hathaway managed to make a qualified save. Sipo EC's players were relieved. After 16 minutes Sipo EC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Marquis Kenny who took care of the corner kick. Filip Bykowski received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Jermaine Richmond tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tigran Kirakosyan might have been able to make a better finish in the 26th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Carroll Hathaway. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tigran Kirakosyan ran back to his position shaking his head. Carroll Hathaway made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Merlin Castro in the 29th minute of play. Sipo EC's Carroll Hathaway proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 30th minute of the match, managed to save Sipo EC from getting a goal against them. 37 minutes into the match, Khachatryan's goal looked a bit too open when Oséias Gerber came free, but Jermaine Richmond reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jermaine Richmond made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Elói Ferreira in the 39th minute of play. With an all-out effort, Khachatryan's Carroll Hathaway threw himself towards the right post 41 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Merlin Castro, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. A collision led to Khachatryan getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Tigran Kirakosyan hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Elói Ferreira in the 44th minute of play forced Khachatryan's goalkeeper Jermaine Richmond to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 45 minutes into the match, Khachatryan's Tigran Kirakosyan sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Carroll Hathaway narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Carroll Hathaway showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Albert Paulíny in the 48th minute of the match. 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.

Khachatryan made a substitution. Hu Wei Shu replaced Tigran Kirakosyan. The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Merlin Castro was the one to do the kick off. In the 60th minute, Noel Velloso hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Sipo EC getting a freekick after 61 minutes play. Noel Velloso hit a great ball. In the 64th minute Albert Paulíny shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Carroll Hathaway saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jermaine Richmond showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rodolfo Porto in the 65th minute of the match. Sung McKinley scored 2-0 in the 68th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Carroll Hathaway, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The audience was convinced that Merlin Castro's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Carroll Hathaway was relentless in the 73rd minute of the game. In the 75th minute, Merlin Castro hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a little luck, Khachatryan's Jermaine Richmond got control of the ball when Elói Ferreira tried to sneak it across the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Merlin Castro in the 84th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Carroll Hathaway prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The crowd rose to their feet as Sipo EC's Noel Velloso slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jermaine Richmond. That made the score 2-1 after 85 minutes of play. 87 minutes into the match, Khachatryan's goalkeeper Jermaine Richmond had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Oséias Gerber. Carroll Hathaway took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sung McKinley, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 96th minute, Merlin Castro managed to get in a good position for a shot. Khachatryan's supporters rose to their feet, but Merlin Castro was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Carroll Hathaway breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Carroll Hathaway made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Merlin Castro in the 97th minute of play. Khachatryan were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Sipo EC for a fine match.