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Wednesday Night Delight Continues for RealReal could get used to playing on Wednesday nights. Playing their second make-up game of the year, Real held off a talented Casa Sporting squad 2-0 in a typically intense match. The win puts Real back in the thick of the title race.Real came into the match with plenty of bodies to compete with Sporting, but were without captain Marcos Mercado who was nursing an injury. However, Real's strength is their depth and the back four did not skip a beat with Brent Hamilton and Utodi Madu starting in the center of the defense with Todd Simmons on the right and Kenyon Hill on the left, protecting 'keeper Conor McNulty. McNulty was tested early on in the first half, when a giveaway by Hill led to a Sporting cross headed by striker Jason Jones with McNulty tipped over the bar. Both teams traded corner kicks, while Sporting depended on the early counter-attack to trouble the Real defense. Real made several substitutions with Ralph Cazel coming in to play left back, while Pat Nelle came on to give the Real attack more pace. It was Nelle who was released by the through ball from midfielder John Jones, but was unable to put his shot on target. At the half, the score remained 0-0. The second half began with wide midfielder Dominic Jakubek switching to the center of midfield to be the metronome for both the attack and defense. Real started the second half with purpose as wing back Simmons collected the ball on the wing and sent a surgical through ball to Nelle who, one on one with the Sporting 'keeper, expertly chipped the ball that found its home in the side netting. After going through a dry spell, Nelle has found his touch. Sporting continued to be dangerous offensively, but Madu and Hamilton effectively corralled the striker partnership of Jones and Micah Howser. A controversial period occurred when, after a Sporting corner and a scramble in the box, there were shouts for a handball on a Real defender. However, the referee signaled play on and Real went on the counter. The ball ended up at the foot of 'El Emperador' Art Temblador whose pinpoint cross found Anthony "Super Mario" Chimienti whose downward header beat the 'keeper for the dagger goal. Chimienti and Nelle are now scoring freely (and in important games) which should be cause for concern for the defenses of the CCSL. Real are now looking like a well-oiled machine and have a week off before matches resume. Starting Lineup (4-4-2): McNulty - Simmons, Hamilton, Madu, Hill - Ricks-Chambers, Jones, Delgado, Jakubek - Chimienti, Frazelle Men of the Match - Brent Hamilton, Utodi Madu |
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