League

Asheville Stadium
Spectators: 6927 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1774, VIP seats: 153) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Derick Talley made the kick off which started today's match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Stephan Bachman during the 3rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Stephan Bachman kicked well hit freekick during the 3rd minute of the match. Markus Kaiser recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 6th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Derick Talley in the 12th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Francesco Blum saved Asheville FC from getting behind. In the 13th minute, Trevor MacMillan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Korey Iverson fell near the penalty area in the 22nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Asheville FC's protests and gave Korey Iverson a yellow card for diving instead. After 21 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Asheville FC! In the 24th minute there was a penalty for Nirvana. Vicente Lyles stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Francesco Blum. 0-1. Derick Talley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 38th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 40th minute, Markus Kaiser 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 crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The wind increased when Luke Stephenson made the kick off in the second half. 51 minutes into the match, Asheville FC's Luke Stephenson sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Bryon Luther narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 58th minute of the match Mckinley Hensley shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Francesco Blum showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Asheville FC's zone, Markus Kaiser stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Francesco Blum came out of the goal and Markus Kaiser tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Tomas Rich recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 68th minute Derick Talley shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Francesco Blum saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Tomas Rich sent away a hard shot on goal in the 69th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Francesco Blum made an important save on a dangerous shot by Markus Kaiser in the 73rd minute. Trevor MacMillan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Markus Kaiser had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Luke Stephenson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 85 played minutes Nirvana got a freekick which was hit by Vicente Lyles. In the 88th minute, Nirvana's Markus Kaiser ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Francesco Blum. Francesco Blum yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-2. Bryon Luther didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Luke Stephenson went, in the 92nd minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Nirvana eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.