CAN WE GRAB A FIRST WIN THIS SEASON!?

Player of the match: Kai, for hitting the goal of the season and keeping the center

Goal Scorer(s): Amir, Kai, Adam (assisted by Mateo)

Funny of the game: The field was slightly tilted, and it also tilted back towards the left side. IT WAS REALLY WEIRD!

1st Half

Coach Josh was coaching again this game, and we were playing a team in the TCSL league. The game started pretty slow, our attackers kept losing it in the attacking third, and center-mid-flielders kept having to retrieve the low balls during the build out phase. We picked up speed after they made a cross-in from the left side and popped a goal right behind Jacob, our center-back. The team we played, Legends United, was a fast team. They also had a pretty fast right winger, who blew by our left back a few times. But once we got his strategy, making an attack run in behind our defense, we got him off-sides multiple times. Amir made a nice run into the 18 yard box, and scored off a nice pass I made. Afterwards, later in the half, Landon threw in a nice ball off the left side, followed by a beautiful shot by Kai way outside the box, that hit a high left-hand corner FOR A GOAL! We took the lead. To top things off, Kai is left-footed, and he hit this shot right-footed, so give it up for KAI! We had the advantage both in hope, and in skill. We were looking good as the half ended 2-1, we were in the lead!

At half, coach gave us pointers everywhere. "We want to play the ball fast whether it's corners, free-kicks, or throw-ins." He said. "Let's get the ball in play so that they are not set when we do!" He gave advice to the center backs, and wingers. "I might yell 'hit him at the flagpole' which means kick the ball towards the flagpole and let the wingers do the work to get it. Then the other winger comes in and voila! We are in for a goal. Wingers, you gotta' put that work in to get there." We were ready to "sustain and retain!" the ball. 

2nd Half

Man! The attackers were really mad. We went at them with ease, but one guy knocked Luke over and smacked into him really hard. Somehow he didn't get a yellow, but it sure called for one! We passed it up and Landon quickly crossed it for a beautiful shot on goal, but Mateo got it from him, and dribbled down, doing the, "Flagpole play", as coach Josh describes it, running down to the end and crossing into the box. Adam was on the other side ready for a cross, and when the goalkeeper didn't notice him and came out to block Mateo's angles, he took the chance and passed to Adam for an easy plop into the net to lead the game 3-1! The game went on like this until a few corners were kicked in our half, and they almost scored. But our defensive line thankfully cleared out and got it up the field. 

Towards the end of the game, Luke got #24 down JUST inside the yard box and they got a penalty. Ethan made a go at it, but barely missed it, because the shot was perfected.