League

Burney
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Rodney Fowler took the kick off in the first half of the match. FC Cincinnati's Rafael Bliss pulled a muscle in his back after 3 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Darryl Hagen charged in rather forcefully in the 3rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Darryl Hagen the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 4 played minutes Sparks got a freekick which was hit by Darryl Hagen. With a little luck, Sparks's Gerald Negron got control of the ball when Mike Sheridan tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by DeMarcus Ybarra in the 7th minute of play forced FC Cincinnati's goalkeeper Wade Graham to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 7 minutes, Gerardo Trujillo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the FC Cincinnati and the Sparks players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to FC Cincinnati getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Gerardo Trujillo hit a great ball. FC Cincinnati's Wade Graham played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rodney Fowler in the 8th minute of play. Merlin Farris hit a great freekick 11 minutes into the match. Wade Graham showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from German Lopes in the 11th minute of the match. Sparks's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by German Lopes in the 13th minute. The corner led Sparks's German Lopes to fire away a dangerous shot which Wade Graham despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. 21 minutes into the match, FC Cincinnati's goal looked a bit too open when Darell Lugo came free, but Wade Graham reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Wade Graham made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rodney Fowler in the 36th minute of play. Wade Graham made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from DeMarcus Ybarra in the 37th minute of play. Gerald Negron made a fantastic save in the 39th minute, when Mike Sheridan sent off a good shot on target. With 41 minutes on the clock, Johnny Gibbons commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. In the 42nd minute, Johnny Gibbons hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tom Barrow recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 43rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to FC Cincinnati getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Gerardo Trujillo hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tyrell McKinney in the 47th minute of play forced FC Cincinnati's goalkeeper Wade Graham to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Mike Sheridan to make the kick off. Darryl Hagen hit a great freekick 54 minutes into the match. Mike Sheridan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gerald Negron having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 57th minute, Dennis Youngblood managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Cincinnati's supporters rose to their feet, but Dennis Youngblood was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gerald Negron breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Tyrell McKinney received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Wade Graham came out and tried to block the shot, but Tyrell McKinney slotted it home off the left post making it 0-1 in the 59th minute. Darell Lugo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. German Lopes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Sparks made a substitution. David Varela replaced Tyrell McKinney. Darell Lugo 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. Dennis Youngblood's late challenge caught a Sparks's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dennis Youngblood helped the player get up and apologised. Darell Lugo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to FC Cincinnati getting a freekick after 94 minutes play. Rocco Willard hit a great ball. Sparks's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.