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Wolfpac down to 10 men early;
split points with Three Lions in 1-1 draw
Starfire Sports Facility, Sunday May 4th,
9 PM
Match
photos - coming soon!
Starfire division-three resumed play Sunday night for Wolfpac and Three Lions FC in a late night scheduled game between the only unbeatens in the division. With nothing more than goal differential separating the two teams it was winner take all in the mid-season match up. The teams will not meet again until the playoffs.
Early indications of less than stellar officiating presented themselves early and then often when the one man refereeing team, usually consisting of three (referee and two linesmen), called for captains.
Mistakes continued throughout the night, but none more important than a cut-short ending and an early sendoff of a Wolfpac player "as a mistake" in which the referee later said he "apologized to the player and manager". When questioned as to why the team continued to play with 10 men, it was again said, "it was a mistake...".
The sendoff followed a hard play in which the foul was called and retaliation ensued. After the play was blown dead the Three Lions player (#8) involved in the foul, winning the free-kick, kicked Wolfpac midfielder Jorge Camacho near the knees as he ran past - sending him to the turf.
Why a blatant attack of aggression did not result in a red-card sendoff for the Three Lions player but a later unexplained sendoff of the Wolfpac forward remained a mystery to many.
Despite the non-soccer related drama of the first half, both teams played physically and got plenty of opportunites at goal. Early through balls from Three Lions FC (TLFC) proved difficult for the Wolfpac defense and TLFC were on the score sheet first, in the 9th minute, when one such pass reached the lone TLFC forward who maneuvered around his defender, then the goalkeeper in route to finding net.
Wolfpac responded just a couple of minutes later when a cross sent into the box by Camacho was mishandled, then saved off the line by the TLFC defense. Unfortunately for the Three Lions, Gonzales was there to clean up, netting his fourth of the season.
Starting and throughout the second half Wolfpac maintained possession despite being down a man, but failed to find its rhythm and create the magnitude of scoring opportunities it had in the first three matches of the season.
However, scoring chances did present themselves to both sides, but neither team could make good on any and find the game-winning-goal.
Smith had maybe the best chance(s) for Wolfpac all second half but failed in composing a shot when TLFC defense claimed he had come from an offside position to receive the ball and then later just lost target of the goal resulting in his shot wide left.
Lashbrook and Mills came close in the dying minutes of the game when Lashbrook's attempt hit the cross bar and fell into Mills possession. Mills took his touch and setup for a lefty, but missed wide left when a defender tightly guarding.
Three Lions had their chances too, but shots high or wide and a tightened up Wolfpac defensive unit did their best in preserving the 1-1 draw. The split of points allows Wolfpac to stay atop the division on goal differential.
Wolfpac next faces the Eagles who currently sit in third place - only dropping points to Three Lions FC in their first three matches. TLFC meets FC Pacific in week five action.
:NOTES: Sorry for the delay in getting the site updated. It has been a busy week...
Stats & Stat sheet - coming soon!
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Last Update: Friday
May 9st, 2008; 07:45