League

Basil Hippodrone
Spectators: 7417 (Terracing: 5817, Seating: 1500, VIP seats: 100) Martin Frederick started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Phillip Dietz sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a little luck, Connecticut FC's Shayne Herrera got control of the ball when Rodger Dunbar tried to sneak it across the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rodger Dunbar got free with Shayne Herrera in the 6th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 8th minute Phillip Dietz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Shayne Herrera saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Martin Frederick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Martin Frederick fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 21st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Freddy Barton having to interfere. When Bronson Goff came up free with the goalie in the 23rd minute, the Connecticut FC 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 Bronson Goff couldn't finish the play. Martin Frederick took the ball and in the 28 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Freddy Barton. Freddy Barton 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. 32 minutes into the match, Connecticut FC's goalkeeper Shayne Herrera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Rodger Dunbar. If Rodger Dunbar had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Freddy Barton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Bronson Goff, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. After 38 minutes, Solomon Dunbar mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Byzantium AFC and the Connecticut FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Byzantium AFC getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Solomon Dunbar hit a great ball. Byzantium AFC's Freddy Barton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Martin Frederick in the 40th minute of play. Rodger Dunbar took the ball and in the 41 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Shayne Herrera. Shayne Herrera dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Phillip Dietz to make the kick off. If Bronson Goff had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Martin Frederick sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Freddy Barton made a fantastic save in the 58th minute, when Darius Maldonado sent off a good shot on target. If Martin Frederick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 59th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The supporters of Connecticut FC booed when Byzantium AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. C.J. Thayer didn't get a good kick on the ball. Rodger Dunbar sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 65 minutes into the game, Byzantium AFC's Rodger Dunbar nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Shayne Herrera made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. A collision led to Byzantium AFC getting a freekick after 68 minutes play. Alberto Hodges hit a great ball. 77 minutes into the match, Connecticut FC's goal looked a bit too open when Rodger Dunbar came free, but Shayne Herrera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Martin Frederick sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 81 minutes into the match, Darius Maldonado notched a goal, 2-2, to the right of Byzantium AFC's Freddy Barton. Freddy Barton was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 87th minute the ball was on its way in behind Byzantium AFC's goalkeeper Freddy Barton, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Phillip Dietz in the 92nd minute of play forced Connecticut FC's goalkeeper Shayne Herrera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 93rd minute Phillip Dietz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Shayne Herrera saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.