June 21st, 2010

La Puerta Hermosa Lost In Translation

FWISD #1 -  Rahr United took to the field on the hottest day of the year, in what was expected to be a fiery encounter with the reigning Division 2 champions.

Right off the bat, La Puerta proved they were going to be a stern test.  The Latin team won possession, and refused to give it up easily. When United did win the ball, La Puerta swarmed in numbers to win it back.

The Brews looked like they were in for a long night before forward Charlie Schlott was pulled down roughly 30 yards from goal.

Michael Salcedo stepped up and scored what will definitely be a “Goal of the Season” canidate. The ball, traveling against the wind, looked like it was destined for the parking lot, before it dipped back down and into the upper 90 of the goal.

Physicists were flabbergasted. Nike acted quickly to replace Cristiano Ronaldo with Salcedo, via photoshop, in all of their adverts.

Most of the supporters in the attendance still had their jaws on the floor when La Puerta resumed with their short-short-long pass game.  The intelligent play and communication of Prof. Matt Riordan and JP Amick helped to catch the opposition strikers offsides, time after time.

Meanwhile, Chandler Wagner was enjoying his offensive freedom on the left flank, and didn’t let his opportunity go to waste.  Wagner took a wonderful free kick that beat everyone to the back post, but it lacked a finish.

Wagner would replicate his cross, this time from open play, and this time Schlott would make sure it counted.  Schlott sacrificed his body, and future generations of Lil’ Schlotts, to put United up 2-0.

The second half looked less like a game, and more like a war-zone.

United would enjoy the help of the wind, but see even less of the ball.  Tackles were followed by elbows, which were followed by dives, which lead to ugly football.

With three quarters of the game gone, La Puerta would ensure the battle went to the final whistle.  Miscommunication and slow reaction time let La Puerta score the easiest of tap-ins from a cheap free-kick.

United dug in, however, and showed their determination, skill, and class as they shut the game down until the final whistle. Lead by JP Amick in the second half, the defense suffocated the La Puerta threat and won another 3 points for the Brews.

After the game, manager Johnny Ferraro said, “It was great to see another side of this United team. When playing the sleek, sexy, passing football wasn’t working for us, we dug in and worked hard. We grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, and left with a W.”

Man of the Match honors went to JP Amick for his outstanding leadership and play, even when paired with a different center-back partner every 5 mintues.  He was awarded a pair of black socks, so he actually looks like a part of the team.

United will face off against another unknown opponent, in the Arlington Comets.  This will be United’s hardest test to date. The Comets have scored 18 goals in their first 3 games, and this will be their only fixture against United this season.

June 14, 2010

United fly high as Chaos Crash

FWISD #1- Rahr United took to the field, looking to avenge the thrashing of last season when the Whites could only field 7 players.  Player/Manager Johnny Ferraro made it clear that he was not going to show FC Chaos any mercy after he suggested the opponents either find alternate shirts, or forfeit the game.

Repeating the game plan from the previous week, United spent most of the first half playing keep-away from Chaos.  They dictated the rhythm straight from the kick-off, and it
wasn't long until United had the lead.

The Chaos netminder added to the trend of calamitous goalkeepers this week when he made hard work of a tame shot. United's Charlie Schlott was quick to react and tucked the ball into the back of the net to get United off the mark.

United would not take long to double their lead. Schlott turned provider for midfield maestro, Garrett Horvath. Horvath hit a clean volley
from the top of the box to get his account started with United.

With the 2-0 lead, things got tighter in the middle of the park. United were dominating the middle, but couldn't get the ball into their attacking third.

Abraham Ademola helped change up the point of attack, whipping in cross after cross from the right flank. Schlott would grab his brace after putting his head onto one
of those crosses

3-0 to the good, the defense made sure that the strong wind would not help Chaos back into the game. The fullbacks were contesting every ball in the air and
did well to work the ball out of the back, even when Chaos were pressing high.

The game would become more physical after Johnny Ferraro tried to cut someones leg off from the halfway line.

The half would end, but not before Goalkeeper Estevan Cruz made a highlight save on a shot that was in danger of entering his 6 yard box.

The 2nd half would kick off much like the previous week. United looked listless. Whether it was complacency with the scoreline, or a beating from the heat,
United looked nowhere near their best.

The highlight of the second half was when Ademola got hit by the pain train. Before he could even drag his limp body off the field, his replacement had already been
subbed in.

The game would end with United's defense earning their first clean sheet of the season.  With news filtering in that the Wanderers v. Fat Tire and La Puerta Hermosa v.
Comets game both ended in draws, Rahr United lead the league by 2 points.

June 7, 2010

United Skunk Fat Tire in Season Opener

FWISD #3 - Another "Battle of the Beers" took place with a new-look Rahr United. Only six of the 21-man squad player/manager Johnny Ferraro assembled were a part of last season's nightmare.

Any worries about a repeat of last season were quickly put to rest after 10 minutes when Mike Salcedo gave United the lead. Starting from the back, United used slick passing to lull Fat Tire to sleep. A pass into the box left Salcedo with only the keeper to beat.

Fat Tire would find no love as the monster of midfield, Martin Cleworth, lead by example, suffocating any player in a green shirt with the ball. Cleworth was quick to show he was more than just a defensive destroyer when he scored from 20 yards out. The 2nd goal of the game nearly broke the crossbar.

After the water break, and a wave of substitutions, United showed no signs of letting up.

Charlie Schlott would make amends for missing a golden one-on-one chance, by slotting home from the spot, putting United 3-0 up.

Cody "Super Glue" Yarborough made it 4-0 from his new right back position with a phenomenal effort. Yarborough launched an effort from the halfway line that Fat Tire's keeper couldn't cope with.

Fat Tire found a goal right before the half-time whistle as the defense in white fell asleep.

The second half would look like a completely different game.

Fat Tire won a penalty in the early stages after Cedric Goddervrind was judged to have brought down a player in the box. In all fairness to Goddervrind, the penalty would have looked soft in a U-6 girls league.

United Goal Keeper, Estevan Cruz, would keep his 100% penalties conceded record as Fat Tire found their second.

After some comical efforts, William Wennerth put United 5-2 to the good. At times in the second half it looked like United had trouble finding the goal posts, let alone the back of the net.

Midway through the second, a push in the back saw threw centreback JP Amick off balance and allowed Fat Tire another chance. The forward in green lobbed the ball over Cruz, who was too eager in waiting for a back pass before the push.

Many United die-hards had flashbacks to last season, when both fixtures had last minute equalizers.

Luckily this Rahr United squad showed their resilience and held on for the first 3 points of the season.