League

Julia Belle Swain
Spectators: 7341 (Terracing: 5500, Seating: 1841, VIP seats: 0) Los Angeles F.C's Rolando Callahan started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. With 3 minutes on the clock, Gerry Ivey commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. 3 minutes into the game, one of Los Angeles F.C:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. With a little luck, Los Angeles F.C's Cristopher Munson got control of the ball when Leland Rubio tried to sneak it across the goal line. The supporters of Los Angeles F.C booed when John Hartford FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Reyes Rivas didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cruz Hardy in the 18th minute of play forced John Hartford FC's goalkeeper Whitney Swift to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 20 minutes into the match, Mitchell Starr had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Whitney Swift. John Hartford FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Mitchell Starr was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. After 23 played minutes Los Angeles F.C got a freekick which was hit by Christian Magee. Cristopher Munson made an important save on a dangerous shot by Leland Rubio in the 26th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Leland Rubio in the 26th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Cristopher Munson prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 27th minute, Perry Larson made a precise shot to the right of Cristopher Munson. Los Angeles F.C's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. After a defensive mix-up in John Hartford FC's zone, Mitchell Starr stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Whitney Swift came out of the goal and Mitchell Starr tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Mitchell Starr sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 35th match minute, John Hartford FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Reyes Rivas to maneuver through the defense. After 38 played minutes Los Angeles F.C got a freekick which was hit by Keith Duffy. When the match clock showed 40 minutes, the score became 3-1 when Leland Rubio sped through Los Angeles F.C's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Cristopher Munson. Thanks to some nice moves Perry Larson could shoot a difficult shot in the 43rd minute, which Cristopher Munson however easily saved by the left post. In the 44th minute of the match, Christian Kruse tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Cristopher Munson saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 45th minute, Leland Rubio reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Cristopher Munson. The goal made the score 4-1. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Leland Rubio stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Logan Barajas in the 51st minute of play forced Los Angeles F.C's goalkeeper Cristopher Munson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Los Angeles F.C's Mitchell Starr got a good chance for a goal in the 52nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Cristopher Munson took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Perry Larson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Leland Rubio took the ball and in the 64 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Cristopher Munson. Cristopher Munson dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 5-1. Cristopher Munson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Leland Rubio, who was totally free with the ball in the 68th minute. After 69 played minutes Los Angeles F.C got a freekick which was hit by Keith Duffy. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rocco Berg in the 71st minute of play forced Los Angeles F.C's goalkeeper Cristopher Munson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cristopher Munson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rocco Berg in the 73rd minute of play. After 76 played minutes John Hartford FC got a freekick which was hit by Perry Larson. John Hartford FC's Wayne MacKenzie was substituted for Wilton Lowery. John Hartford FC made a substitution. Rickey Decker replaced Rocco Berg. Perry Larson hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. Landon Brennan kicked well hit freekick during the 81st minute of the match. Cristopher Munson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Christian Kruse, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. Rolando Callahan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Whitney Swift tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 88th match minute, John Hartford FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bryant Ring to maneuver through the defense.