Match Report – 10 April 2010 – Match Day 6 (make up)
Dinamo Red Star (Hoffman x2, Ticas, Rutkin) | 4 – 3 | Overworld
We last played Overworld two seasons ago and we last played them at Salesian HS. We were the 2nd place team and they were in 3rd. We were just starting to gel in a rebuilding year and they were seasoned veterans, “gellin” with the usual shared dubbie. Thing is, they stepped it up in the playoffs and stepped all over us to make it to the final. We showed little heart and effort in the consolation game with the sting still in our lungs from Overworld’s smoke screen. The disappointing loss, ending an unexpectedly great season, would ultimately put in motion what was to become an unprecedented run. They took the season off, and we ran the table in the Super Metro winning the league and playoffs.
Two teams with a bit of history were now back on familiar stomping grounds. Which team would prevail?
It was nice to see that we were up for the game, but only having eleven guys for yet another difficult game would prove to be an instant setback. We had guys playing out of their normal positions and while we were trying to figure it out, they scored 2. Both were gifted as we turned the ball over near our own 18.
Welcome Ari Ticas and Austin Alvarado. Ari created up and down the left wing all game while Austin, who normally plays striker, was asked to play in the back. We took a while to settle in but we finally started to play from back to front, dominating play and creating chances. Tyler must have ESP or some other mind control as he put in a ball that should have been covered, but ultimately troubled their keeper to no end. The ball bobbled in his hands, on the ground, through his legs and along the goal line. Matty may have helped a ball that was already going in, but either way we were back in it, 1-2.
Overworld answered off another gift from the defense, 1-3. The same guy scored all three off of turnovers that put him one v one with Tony. Enough…we were giving the ball up too easily all over the field. Although we were clearly the harder working and more skilled team, the simple mistakes were killing us. The back line solidified, the midfield played up and down while creating for the guys up top. The momentum was clearly with us as we went three across the back in an all out assault. At times we dominated to the point we only had two in the back. Austin made some great runs up the middle, causing them all sorts of problems.
Sean had to leave for work so we were down to ten for a bit, but it still didn’t matter. Before long we were peppering their goal and Hoffman pounced on a another rebound. Ari crossed one in to Tyler, who made it two for two playing up top, and also slotted one in as well, 4-3. Billy arrived to put us back to eleven and the game was over. Play was physical and turned ugly as Overworld began to argue with each other. The refs did their usual part of making matters worse by failing to call obvious fouls and cheap shots while blowing the whistle for other ghost infractions. It’s an understatement when I say that the Saturday ref’s were hoping for an AYSO kids game were in over their heads and experience level.
The best thing we did all day was keep our cool and impose our game. Three points and minimal injury will make even the worst refs fade from memory.
