| Next Match | ||
| v | Academica |
| May 31st, 3:00 PM Southside Park | ||
| Previous Match | ||
| v | Aguias |
| W 3 - 0 | ||
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Late Real Goals Beat SportingReal San Juan faced the high-powered offense of Sporting with many regulars missing and only eleven at game time. Sporting also lacked a full substitutes' bench and started defender Ben Gale in goal. Although there were many questions about which short-handed team would win, it was evident that the game, like many previous Real/Sporting matches, would have lots of goals. Real started a little slow. Sporting's low pressure defense proved troublesome for the Real offense. Sporting's defenders were able to contain the Real forwards and intercept hopeful penetrating balls that were impatiently sent forward. Sporting took the early lead when a ball served into the left side of the Real box found a streaking Zac Matteoli whose glancing header beat 'keeper McNulty. Down 1 - 0, Real continuedsearching for the equalizer until forward Patrick Nelle found the back of the net. Art Temblador served a 40-yard ball across the field to Nelle at the top right side of the Sporting box. Nelle's impressive individual dribbling beat several Sporting defenders before his shot beat 'Keeper Ben Gale. The first half ended with the teams tied 1 - 1. The second half started a little better for Real. With the wind at their backs and a couple substitutes, Real seemed poised to take the game over. After several minutes of back and forth action, Real took the lead with a spectacular goal by Art Temblador. The ball was switched from the right side to the left by Dominick Jakubek to Art Temblador. The crafty Temblador was able to shake the Sporting outside back and get a clear shot at goal. Temblador's left-footed shot floated over Gale's head and curled into the far post to put Real in the lead 2 - 1. Real then faced immense pressure from the Sporting offense. Sporting pinned Real in their own half and Real seemed destined to concede a goal. Sporting tied the equalizer when Ato Leone spun around, beat a Real defender at the top of the box and shot the ball through a crowded Real box. Leone's shot seemed to weave and bounce through the defense and into the goal. At 2 - 2, the game looked like it would be a tie. In the 88th minute, a patient Jimmy Frazelle passed the ball to Patrick Nelle who was posted up inside the Sporting six yard box. Nelle promptly spun and drilled a shot into the back of the net for the game winner. Art Temblador scored Real's fourth goal in the waning moments of the game to ensure a Real victory. Real remains in first place with Academica close behind. Starting Lineup (4-4-2)McNulty - Maurtua, Hamilton, Simmons, Cazel- Ricks-Chambers, Temblador, Jakubek, Robinson - Sandoval, Nelle Substitutions: Frazelle, Madu Goals: Nelle (2), Temblador (2) Man of the Match: Art Temblador |
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