Lady Rovers 1: 0 - Vendaval: 1
Having cheered the whole second half for R2D2, Rovers 1 took the field at 11 am for its own big challenge of the week: a game against one of our two arch rivals – Vendaval.
With just 11 players for the first half and 9 for the second half, Rovers 1 knew it was gonna be a difficult game. Yet our ladies really are exceptional and were more than decided to win the game.
Exactly like R2D2 had done before it, Rovers 1 took early control of the game. Splendid defending and utter control of the midfield made it look like it was gonna be a one way game. And so came the tenth minute. A Vendaval player tackled one of our own just by the midfield line. The referee whistled. As our midfield and defense moved up to take the free kick, a Vendaval player put the ball on the ground and pass it forward to one of its own player who was rushing in the open space. Apparently the referee – without signaling it to us – had called a foul in favor of Vendaval?!?!……… (there had been a similar incident in the R2 game where the same referee called a foul against us after Stacey was kicked in the ankles from behind). The Vendaval striker not thinking twice and with no defense whatsoever to beat went at it alone and left no chance to our X-factor goalie whatsoever. Rovers 1 0- Vendaval 1 and all was to do.
Rovers 1 picked up were it left and regain its utter domination of the game. Shannon on the left was dancing around the midfield and combining with Brynne, Ana, Amy F and Amy P to drive Vendaval crazy. But efficient catenaccio style defending kept our girls at bay from the goal. Here too they resorted to long framed shots which just couldn't find a good enough angle to beat the goalie. Having outrageously dominated the entire game we couldn't come back by half time, a problem since Shannon and Brynne had to leave us for work and a wedding.
The question is what do you do with only 9 players against a top team that has several subs. The answer: you fight and you play smart to avoid getting exhausted. And did our girls play smart. For 45 minutes, perfect defending led by Nat and Andi in the center, Amy and Abbey at full back and solid goalkeeping by Annie X allowed us to let Vendaval do the running and holding the ball but really us controlling the pace and direction of the game. Despite having 2 extra players on the field, Vendaval just could not find the space, any space to bring the danger to us. And on the contrary, we slowly started to regain possession of the ball to the point that the last 10 minutes were an all Rovers affair. 5 minutes from the end a great ball through the middle ended up in Jenn's feet. With three defenders coming at her she kept her composure and dribbled one, another and just in front of the box, looked like she was gonna squeeze past the last one to take a shot, just to be stopped in her stride by a lucky heel. 2 minutes later a well taken free kick was caught by Vendaval goalie.
As the referee whistled the end of the game, Rovers 1 had lost 3 points but had gain serious street cred as the team that could do the job being short of 2 players.
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