League Play-Off

Menomonee Falls
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Shelton Valenzuela started the match with the kick off. After a rather tough play, New Jersey Lions FC's Len Becker got a free kick in the 4th minute. Nathaniel Copeland sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jerrod Rouse's late challenge caught a New Jersey Lions FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jerrod Rouse helped the player get up and apologised. In a very dangerous position, a player in Lake Ronkonkoma AFC fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 9th minute. Penalty! Vincent LoDuca went to the wrong direction when Johnnie Albert was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. Shelton Valenzuela fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vincent LoDuca having to interfere. In the 22nd minute, Shelton Valenzuela 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 29th minute Shelton Valenzuela shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vincent LoDuca saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 33rd match minute, Lake Ronkonkoma AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dan North to maneuver through the defense. Emmanuel Heath struck a weak shot in the 37th minute. Vincent LoDuca didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for New Jersey Lions FC. In the 40th minute, Emmanuel Heath 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. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Sebastian Grant was the one to do the kick off. Alexis Kirkland's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Chris Reagan read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 52nd minute of play. When Dan North fell near the penalty area in the 55th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Lake Ronkonkoma AFC's protests and gave Dan North a yellow card for diving instead. Johnnie Albert shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. In the 58th minute Lewis Ewing shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Chris Reagan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Bradley Page received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Vincent LoDuca tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Len Becker was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 61 minutes into the match. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 61st minute of the game. One of New Jersey Lions FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Lake Ronkonkoma AFC:s goal. In the 63rd minute, the referee gave Lake Ronkonkoma AFC a penalty. Emilio Rich looked confident and blasted the ball into goal by the left post, totally unstoppable for Chris Reagan. Emmanuel Heath received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Vincent LoDuca tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 70th minute, Wilber Helton managed to get in a good position for a shot. New Jersey Lions FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Wilber Helton was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Vincent LoDuca breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After having played for 71 minutes, Terence Sears managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. New Jersey Lions FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Terence Sears was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 73rd minute, Terence Sears 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 having played for 74 minutes, Wilber Helton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. New Jersey Lions FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Wilber Helton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Chris Reagan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sebastian Grant, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Chris Reagan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sebastian Grant in the 78th minute of the match. In the 80th minute, Wilber Helton 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. If Gary Elmore had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bradley Page 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. 88 minutes into the match, New Jersey Lions FC's Johnnie Albert sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Vincent LoDuca narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Vincent LoDuca made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bradley Page in the 93rd minute of play. Wilber Helton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. New Jersey Lions FC's Chris Reagan proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 97th minute of the match, managed to save New Jersey Lions FC from getting a goal against them. In the 99th minute Lewis Ewing shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Chris Reagan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the New Jersey Lions FC players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.