League

Brainerd
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Arnoldo Stahl started the match with the kick off. A collision led to Brainerd FC getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Vincent Weiss hit a great ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Shawn Diamond got free with Ediberto Messias in the 9th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. With his leg Ediberto Messias managed to avoid a goal in the 11thth minute, when Brainerd FC's Shawn Diamond fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Shawn Diamond received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Ediberto Messias tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Billy Reeves sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Holmes Beach's Rickie Love in the 22nd minute got a chance for a shot 22nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Brainerd FC's goalie prevented a goal. Holmes Beach:s Ediberto Messias showed great skill when he stopped Elias Lockhart:s penalty. 29 minutes had been played when some careless play by Holmes Beach's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Elias Lockhart was slow to take the kick. During this time Brainerd FC's players had a chance to rest. It was a well-played corner which Luis Cornelius managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Ediberto Messias made an important save on a dangerous shot by Shawn Diamond in the 44th minute. 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 Billy Reeves made the kick off in the second half. Alex Pearson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Billy Reeves, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. The corner ended in Rico Grimes almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Brainerd FC's Alex Pearson did a great save. Billy Reeves fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alex Pearson having to interfere. Orlando Thayer hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. Billy Reeves took the ball and in the 64 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Alex Pearson. Alex Pearson dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. An unexpected shot in the 68th minute by Billy Reeves got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Dennis Spivey could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 70th minute of the match, but Alex Pearson made a huge save. Holmes Beach's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Rico Grimes in the 71st minute. Holmes Beach's Dennis Spivey was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Alex Pearson in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. A collision led to Brainerd FC getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Cobi Wray hit a great ball. Billy Reeves fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alex Pearson having to interfere. Warren Priest sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.