League Play-Off

VE Arena
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) With a couple of smart ball manuevers Rupert Howard in the 10th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Zachariah McClain saved Malulo LC from getting behind. Rupert Howard recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 14 minutes, Carlos Farmer mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Darby AFC and the Malulo LC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 14 played minutes Darby AFC got a freekick which was hit by Carlos Farmer. With an all-out effort, Malulo LC's Max Landry threw himself towards the right post 16 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from George Krueger, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Rupert Howard sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Zachariah McClain showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Robby Kay, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. Zachariah McClain showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Robby Kay in the 24th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Malulo LC's zone, Robby Kay stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zachariah McClain came out of the goal and Robby Kay tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 31st minute Rupert Howard shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zachariah McClain saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Robby Kay sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Zachariah McClain made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rupert Howard in the 37th minute of play. In the 39thth minute of the game Robby Kay who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Malulo LC's Zachariah McClain was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Rupert Howard blasted a shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Zachariah McClain having to make a save. In the 46th minute, Kasey Elliot 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. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Rupert Howard made the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute Kasey Elliot shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Max Landry saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 57th minute, Kasey Elliot 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. 58 minutes into the game, one of Malulo LC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 61st minute there was a penalty for Darby AFC. Abe Espinoza stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Zachariah McClain. 0-1. Malulo LC's Zachariah McClain played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rupert Howard in the 66th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rupert Howard in the 69th minute of play forced Malulo LC's goalkeeper Zachariah McClain to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Zachariah McClain made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rupert Howard in the 71st minute of play. If Robby Kay had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 74th match minute, Malulo LC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Theodore Santana to maneuver through the defense. 75 minutes into the match, Malulo LC's goalkeeper Zachariah McClain had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Robby Kay. After some fancy dribbling in the 77th minute, Robby Kay managed to get in a good position for a shot. Darby AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Robby Kay was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Zachariah McClain breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. A collision led to Malulo LC getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Roscoe Rudolph hit a great ball. Rupert Howard's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Zachariah McClain read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 84th minute of play. Kasey Elliot received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Max Landry tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. George Krueger fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Max Landry having to interfere. Darby AFC's Max Landry played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by George Krueger in the 91st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rupert Howard in the 95th minute of play forced Malulo LC's goalkeeper Zachariah McClain to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Malulo LC's Zachariah McClain proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 96th minute of the match, managed to save Malulo LC from getting a goal against them. Darby AFC's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.