Lou City 1 - Hartford 0 As It Happened
Photo by Elizabeth Shaw
Lou City Lined Up As:
12-Faundez, 3-Morris, 4-Totsch, 5-Dayes, 7-Serrano, 8-T. Davila, 9-Donovan, 23-Gleadle, 31-Lambert, 47-Akale, 32-Adams (C)
4th Minute
Akale sends in a cross towards Morris, but he can't quite reach it. Lou City is having loads of possession but not getting great looks.
6th Minute
Morris sends one in that the keeper has to punch.
7th Minute
I'm obviously not the coach, but when you are going up against a team that prefers to set up like this, I think you try some shots from distance early just to keep the other team on its toes.
8th Minute
As if he is reading my mind, Totsch shoots one from distance that is just wide.
15th Minute
Morris has a shot from distance which the goalkeeper spills but there's nobody there to follow it up.
16th Minute
City is a little sloppy around the goal but finally clear the danger. Dayes and Faundez think the other is going to handle the situation and in the end, Faundez has to make a kick save.
19th Minute
Morse crosses one way too close to the keeper.
22nd Minute
City just about deal with another dangerous counter. They need to be careful.
24th Minute
Davila's shot from distance may have taken a deflection but it goes out for a goal kick.
26th Minute
Another cross from Morris which Gleadle gets on the end of but can't quite direct it into anybody else's path.
29th Minute
Gleadle crosses one that's closer to me than any City player.
30th Minute
Hydration break. I hate John Denver. He can stick his “Country Roads” where the country sun doesn’t shine.
36th Minute
Morris’ shot is blocked out for a corner.
The corner finds Gleadle who can't put it on frame.
38th Minute
Flynn for Hartford finally gets his yellow card that he has been desperately trying to get, for a late challenge on Morris. This happens literally 15 seconds after the referee talked to him and told him to simmer down.
40th Minute
Another cross/shot from Morris.
41st Minute
Totsch has another go from distance.
43rd Minute
Gleadle gets off a shot that ultimately finds its way to Serrano, but he rattles the cross bar.
Stoppage Time
Lambert tries one for distance and it is saved out for a corner.
Half Time
Lou City 0 - Hartford 0
Halftime consists of the lamest hotdog eating contest you have ever seen as 4 dudes seem to be leisurely enjoying hot dogs. Boo!!! Dunk it in a glass of water and get it down your gob like a man.
46th Minute
Faundez comes out and makes a save and then is stranded on an island. Somehow Hartford can't find the back of the net as the ball goes out for a corner. Davila is in the way of the second shot, thankfully.
50th Minute
Gleadle tries to find Donovan in the box, but the pass it is just behind him.
51st Minute
Serrano gets himself a space in the box but just can't get the shot on frame and it's blocked out for a corner. Then Serrano ultimately crosses one for Donovan who heads it just off target.
53rd Minute
Akale goes down in the box, but this gutless ref is never going to call a penalty.
55th Minute
Serrano finds himself isolated again in space and the keeper comes out and makes a really good save.
58 Minute
Duncan on for Lambert and Wilson on for Gleadle.
64th Minute
Someone in the Estopinal End uses a different phrase but advises one of the Hartford players that he might not go down so easily if he spent more time at the gym.
67th Minute
GOAL! Donovan works hard to win the ball, pulling the keeper out of the goal, then finds Wilson who stretches to hit the back of the net.
Lou City 1 - Hartford 0
69th Minute
Hartford has a sloppy turnover and it ultimately leads to Wilson crossing one that Ray almost gets on the end of.
73rd Minute
Serrano goes down pretty hard and wins a free kick.
75th Minute
Morris fires the free kick in hard. It deflects off the wall and goes out for a corner.
79th Minute
Wilson hits the post on another good effort.
82nd Minute
Donovan has a chance to finish off the match but just can't quite beat the keeper.
83rd Minute
Tola on for Donovan and Dia on for Morris.
86th Minute
Faundez goes down on a very late challenge from a Hartford player.
89th Minute
Huerman in for Akale.
Stoppage Time
Wilson has two shots stopped and Tola one as Lou City can't find their elusive 2nd goal.
Then there is a melee at midfield with Duncan looking like he got the worst of it.
Full Time
Lou City 1 - Hartford 0
Lou City probably could have scored a few more it not for the fine effort in goal by Antony Siaha. The good news for Lou City is that the defense looked solid on the evening, and Hartford only has a couple of dangerous chances. After the match, Lambert spoke about being glad to see the pitch and help the team for the first time in a while. Coach Bird stated that Hartford played exactly how he expected but that is was good for City to keep their focus and concentration levels high. Wilson was glad to score and to chip in any way he could.
Player Ratings:
Faundez-7, Totsch-8, Dayes-7, Adams-7, Gleadle-7, Davila-7, Lambert-7, Morris-8, Akale-7, Donovan-8, Serrano-8, Wilson-8
