Sunday, March 14th, 2010
TSC 96 Elite - GSA Phoenix Black 2:0 (0:0); goals: Devon Patterson (2)
Our boys started the Spring season with a home game against GSA Phoenix Black. During the first half TSC struggeled to find their rhythm. Partly because GSA did a good job in covering our offensive players initially. Most of the play was in midfield where both teams were battling to get control over the game.
Neither side was able to gain a significant advantage, until missing coordination in the TSC defence lead to two dangerous situations in front of their goal, after about 20 minutes.
Tony Griffin was quick to react to clear a loose ball close to the goal line and only a few minutes later a GSA player struck the lower side of the crossbar from where the ball rebounded into the field.
In those situations the luck was on the side of our team.
TSC produced three good chances in the first half, two breaks from Nicholas Wells and one from Devon Patterson - all were stopped with last ditch efforts by the GSA defense and their goal keeper.
Overall the 0:0 was slightly lucky considering the GSA cross bar shot.
In the second half the picture changed. Minute by minute our team got a better hold on the match and started to dominate. A change in defense - David Olatidoye and Grant Vojnich took the two GSA forwards in man marking - contributed to a much more stable defensive line. Chris Matthews and Amit Yadav as holding midfielders had a good game in the second half and helped significantly to gain an advantage in the crucial central midfield area.
The GSA offensive efforts where cut down early now and upfront our team created more and more good opportunities. Devon Patterson hit the cross bar with a fine free kick from 30 yards in the 45. minute.
In the 48. minute however neither the good GSA goalie nor the cross bar was in the way when Devon struck a rebounded ball from outside the penalty box and hit right beside the post. Another long range shot from Devon Patterson beat the GSA goal keeper again to increase the lead to 2:0. At that point of the game the lead was more than deserved, looking at the many chances our team was creating now. Erik Mauer hit the cross bar another time, Kareem Barbosa and Tony Griffin aimed at the post within only a few minutes. A diving header by Tony was saved by the goal keeper with his fingertips.
Despite a few more chances the score stayed 2:0 until the end of the game. A higher result was certainly possible but would have been harsh on GSA who showed a good performance and kept the game open for a long time.
THUNDER 96
Elite
