League

Mundelein
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Francesco Hyde got the match started through his kick off. Junior Valencia received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Dirk Mitchell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Francesco Hyde received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 13th minute. Al Ames tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Brady Clifford hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. 16 minutes into the game, Downriver's Weston Oberle nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Al Ames made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Mario Eastman received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Al Ames tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Francesco Hyde struck a weak shot in the 24th minute. Al Ames didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Downriver. Trinidad Leal kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. Francesco Hyde fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Al Ames having to interfere. In the 35th minute, Weston Oberle left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Downriver fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. Dirk Mitchell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dominic Hoover, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Zack Hansen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 43rd minute. Al Ames tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Al Ames stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Francesco Hyde's shot from short distance in the 45th minute. 46 minutes into the match, Downriver's goalkeeper Dirk Mitchell had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Junior Valencia. After a defensive mix-up in Downriver's zone, Junior Valencia stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dirk Mitchell came out of the goal and Junior Valencia tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After the first half Downriver were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Dominic Hoover stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Downriver's goalkeeper Dirk Mitchell, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Boyd Nicholas was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 62 minutes into the match. In the 62nd minute, one of Downriver:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Downriver. In the 65th minute there was a penalty for Mundelein FC. Aurelio Ybarra stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Dirk Mitchell. 1-2. Zack Hansen struck a weak shot in the 68th minute. Al Ames didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Downriver. In the 69th match minute, Mundelein FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Trinidad Leal to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dominic Hoover in the 73rd minute of play forced Downriver's goalkeeper Dirk Mitchell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 75 minutes into the match, Downriver's goal looked a bit too open when Dominic Hoover came free, but Dirk Mitchell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dirk Mitchell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Junior Valencia, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Zack Hansen recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 78th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 80 played minutes Mundelein FC got a freekick which was hit by Lincoln Velazquez. Merlin Hunter's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Al Ames read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 81st minute of play. Mario Eastman might have been able to make a better finish in the 83rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Al Ames. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Mario Eastman ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 85th minute Mario Eastman shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Al Ames saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Zack Hansen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Al Ames showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Weston Oberle, who was totally free with the ball in the 89th minute. In the 99th match minute, Downriver was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Son Rojas to maneuver through the defense.