League

Victor Field
Spectators: 7867 (Terracing: 5902, Seating: 1809, VIP seats: 156) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Neil Owens made the kick off which started today's match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Neil Owens in the 3rd minute of play forced Syracuse FC's goalkeeper Emery Browning to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 9 minutes into the match, Syracuse FC's goal looked a bit too open when Denis Lake came free, but Emery Browning reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Emery Browning took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Denis Lake, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 17th minute, C.J. Hartley managed to get in a good position for a shot. Syracuse FC's supporters rose to their feet, but C.J. Hartley was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Teddy Rhoades breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Syracuse FC's Emery Browning played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Neil Owens in the 19th minute of play. When FC Sao Porto's Neil Owens in the 21st minute got a chance for a shot 21st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Syracuse FC's goalie prevented a goal. Syracuse FC's Esteban Barnes got a good chance for a goal in the 27th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A collision led to FC Sao Porto getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Jerry Conn hit a great ball. Syracuse FC's Emery Browning played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Neil Owens in the 40th minute of play. After 40 played minutes FC Sao Porto got a freekick which was hit by Jonas Oakes. After 43 minutes of play, FC Sao Porto's Neil Owens made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Emery Browning was left in no man's land by his defense there! After the first half FC Sao Porto were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell C.J. Hartley to make the kick off. Emery Browning made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Denis Lake in the 50th minute of play. Allan Duke hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. Emery Browning showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Neil Owens, who was totally free with the ball in the 52nd minute. Denis Lake's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 55thth minute, Emery Browning skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. When Denis Lake came up free with the goalie in the 56th minute, the FC Sao Porto 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 Denis Lake couldn't finish the play. When Denis Lake fell near the penalty area in the 59th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored FC Sao Porto's protests and gave Denis Lake a yellow card for diving instead. Denis Lake kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. The Syracuse FC fans' excitement grew in the 60th match minute when Syracuse FC's C.J. Hartley looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. C.J. Hartley fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Teddy Rhoades having to interfere. Denis Lake was extremely unlucky when he, in the 69th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. The audience was convinced that Neil Owens's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Emery Browning was relentless in the 71st minute of the game. In the 73rd minute Esteban Barnes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Teddy Rhoades saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in FC Sao Porto's zone, Esteban Barnes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Teddy Rhoades came out of the goal and Esteban Barnes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 85 minutes into the match, Esteban Barnes had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Teddy Rhoades. FC Sao Porto's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Esteban Barnes was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. Neil Owens fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Emery Browning having to interfere. Denis Lake struck a weak shot in the 94th minute. Emery Browning didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for FC Sao Porto. Neil Owens's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Emery Browning read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 96th minute of play. 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.