This was one of the wild ones... If someone would have offered me a draw against this team before the match, I might have considered it. But not after the played match. With many of our guys returning (from 'other' duties), it was great to have plenty of subs to our disposal. Anyway, Azteca FC started a man short for the first 5 minutes and it was evident in the ball possession. Cucuy FC dictated the pace right from the kick-off and created series of better-than-good goal scoring opportunities. After (sinfully) throwing away 3 to 4 chances to go ahead, Azteca FC manged to venture into out territory with their lonely striker (#10) who immediately showed off his quality, 1:0 Azteca. Well, mistakes happen and we tried to shake them off by continuing putting the opponents under pressure. Yet again, 2 to 3 scoring opportunities came out of our multiple waves of attacks and somehow we managed to squander every one of them.
So the rule 'if you don't score, you'll get scored on' was proven (once again) and #10 picked up a ball that we failed to clear and lobbed Kyle for 2:0 for Azteca. Good thing we didn't lose our spirit and kept up with the pressure. Then right before the half-time whistle, Javier got fouled at the edge of the penalty box. He took the free kick himself and sent it into a right upper ninety, 1:2. It was exactly what we needed going into a break.
Cucuy started the second half with even more vigor and hunger for the ball which led into abundance of chances and corners. One of the corners was cleared and Andrew poaching on top of the penalty box smashed a volley into an upper ninety, 2:2. A fantastic finish!
Paul Scholes would have been proud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Our joy did not last for too long as #10 converted yet another (seldom) attack for 3:2 in Azteca's favor. This guy just could not miss. We refused to give up and engineered an attack after attack, but just could not convert even when there was no one else to beat (right, Karol?). Luckily, Stan proved why Ryan Giggs is so important to his team and that experience goes a long way by sending a pin-point cross to a far post where Hintzky connected with the ball through a diving header. Dave must have flew at least 6 feet before contacting the ball. Absolutely stunning and 3:3! http://www.youtube.com/watch?
I am not sure hot to quite describe what followed next. I was twelve the last time I threw away a scoring opportunity like that. Javier, very unselfishly, served the ball to me on the silver platter. I looked at the keeper to pick the corner to send the ball into, and then managed to 'pussy foot' the strike and so waste a chance to go ahead in the match. Failing to go ahead we found our selves behind once again... #10 read the throw-in perfectly and assisted his teammates for 4:3 Azteca.
With the last ten minutes of the game came an avalanche of scoring chances from our persistent pressure. The ball somehow was saved, cleared of the line or we just miss hit it. With the time running out, Ben controlled a deflected clearance and lobbed the keeper for 4:4. Cucuy kept up the pressure as we all felt like we deserved all three points.
In the final minutes we created even more chances, peppered the keeper, and wasted a free kick... It just was not meant to happen for us to commemorate the 9/11 with the victory. If anything, we trailed three times and managed to come back without ever giving up. For that I have to thank and congratulate the whole team!
Goals: Javier, Andrew, Hintzky, Ben
MVP: Schluni
MFUP (most fucked up play): Karol
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