League

Scotland Neck
Spectators: 6774 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1774, VIP seats: 0) Azzurri's Brant Merritt started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 4th minute, A.J. Rubin made a precise shot to the right of Oscar Larson. A.C. Gamblers's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Oscar Larson stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Brant Merritt's shot from short distance in the 8th minute. Oscar Larson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Brant Merritt in the 11th minute of play. Brant Merritt received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 13th minute. Oscar Larson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A.J. Rubin's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Oscar Larson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 15th minute of play. In the 17th minute, A.J. Rubin hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some careless play in the Azzurri defense, Garrett Bowers kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Tad Stiles. The Azzurri fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Tad Stiles should have stopped the shot. Luis Livingston hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 26th minute, A.J. Rubin managed to get in a good position for a shot. Azzurri's supporters rose to their feet, but A.J. Rubin was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Oscar Larson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a rather tough play, A.C. Gamblers's Luis Livingston got a free kick in the 28th minute. A.J. Rubin struck a weak shot in the 29th minute. Oscar Larson didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Azzurri. 32 minutes into the match, A.C. Gamblers's goal looked a bit too open when A.J. Rubin came free, but Oscar Larson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 36thth minute of the game Brant Merritt who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but A.C. Gamblers's Oscar Larson was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Bryan Hedrick fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tad Stiles having to interfere. A.J. Rubin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 43rd minute A.J. Rubin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Oscar Larson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 47 minutes, Brant Merritt managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Azzurri's supporters crossed their fingers, but Brant Merritt was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Reynaldo Field to strike the kick off in the second half. 55 minutes into the match, Azzurri's Brant Merritt sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Oscar Larson narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Emanuel Solis's shot from long distance in the 58th minute was not bad at all, but A.C. Gamblers's Oscar Larson knew what was happening and pushed the ball into his arms just before it hit the right post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Brant Merritt in the 59th minute of play forced A.C. Gamblers's goalkeeper Oscar Larson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when A.J. Rubin got free with Oscar Larson in the 61st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Tyrone Blanton hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. Tad Stiles made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Reynaldo Field in the 66th minute of play. After 68 minutes Azzurri's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Lucas Puckett who took care of the corner kick. Oscar Larson showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Brant Merritt in the 71st minute of the match. A.J. Rubin succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 1-2 in the 73rd playminute. A.J. Rubin took the ball and in the 77 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Oscar Larson. Oscar Larson dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-3. Reynaldo Field sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Garrett Bowers's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Tad Stiles was relentless in the 85th minute of the game. Garrett Bowers sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Azzurri's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.