League

Phoenix Suns Park
Spectators: 7750 (Terracing: 6000, Seating: 1600, VIP seats: 150) In the 4th minute, Gustavo Blair hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in shenhua's zone, Young Hampton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Wilford Mott came out of the goal and Young Hampton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 13 minutes, Neal Berger mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the shenhua and the Phoenix Suns Atletic players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, shenhua's Neal Berger got a free kick in the 13th minute. Gustavo Blair struck a weak shot in the 14th minute. Wilford Mott didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Phoenix Suns Atletic. Wilford Mott made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustavo Blair in the 17th minute of play. When Young Hampton came up free with the goalie in the 18th minute, the Phoenix Suns Atletic fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Young Hampton couldn't finish the play. After 24 played minutes Phoenix Suns Atletic got a freekick which was hit by Young Hampton. Young Hampton was in a good position and ended up with the ball after Phoenix Suns Atletic's free kick, but he didn't get a good hit on the ball and blazed it high and to the right of the goal. Wilford Mott took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gustavo Blair, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jerrod Burroughs hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. In the 34th match minute, shenhua was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Glenn Howe to maneuver through the defense. 35 minutes into the match, Phoenix Suns Atletic's Young Hampton broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Wilford Mott made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustavo Blair in the 38th minute of play. After having played for 40 minutes, Young Hampton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Phoenix Suns Atletic's supporters crossed their fingers, but Young Hampton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Rashad Starks made the kick off in the second half. After 54 played minutes, Phoenix Suns Atletic's Young Hampton shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Wilford Mott 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 Phoenix Suns Atletic reached it. 58 minutes into the game, Victor Nabar was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Phoenix Suns Atletic's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave shenhua the free kick. Victor Nabar hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. Freddie Priest received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Bill Burger tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 72nd minute, Gustavo Blair left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Phoenix Suns Atletic fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. The supporters of Phoenix Suns Atletic booed when shenhua was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Xavier Skaggs didn't get a good kick on the ball. Young Hampton was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 88th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. If Gustavo Blair had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 96 played minutes Phoenix Suns Atletic got a freekick which was hit by Silas Kent. Phoenix Suns Atletic's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.