Roos FC 2 - Rangers 0

On maybe the best night for soccer all season Roos FC scored two 2nd half goals to get past a pesky Rangers team at Mulroy Park. Each team had maybe 4-6 subs (Gordon for us made it 4 at half). Reffing was good in first half then slowly deteriorated as the game wore on on in second but didnt decide the game one way or the other. Onto the recap.

Roos opened up on the front foot as we had the possession edge in first half (maybe 65-35). We worked the ball in and out wide often but were lacking some in the final third with the last pass or cross. Rangers style seemed to be the same as last time we played them. They were most dangerous skipping the midfield with direct balls to Ryan Schamber who spent a lot of the night fruitlessly chasing balls too far for him that Greg Slabyk easily scooped up. It was really a pattern of us holding and moving the ball while they looked for a loose pass to pick off. For us I thought Nick Sammarco played a great game, along with some impressive passing from Medialle teammates Myles Taylor and Ian Brown. While we bossed the ball Rangers had the best chance of the half. Off a counter Schamber charged down the left flank while Kyle Ernst came over to challenged and was picked, NBA style, by a Ranger. Schamber hit a pretty dipping ball to the far post that clanked off it. The rebound was scuttled wide too. For us Rangers packed the box and our best chances we longer range shots that Weigand saved easy or crosses they knocked away. Half time came with Rangers creeping more into the game locked at zeroes. 

2nd half opened looking like more of the same as we continued to look for a whole in the back. As we tried to get forward quicker Rangers were able to at times counter more effectively with more space given on direct balls. As game grew, the amount of tackles went up too with both teams knowing Tehel Cup life on the line hard to fault everyone. They fouled often with less force while we fouled fewer but stronger, if that makes sense. Neither team liked that very much but again considering stakes I'm hardly shocked. Finally around the 55-60 minute mark we broke through. a string of passes that started with Greg through our defense ended with a slick 1-2 between Taylor and Nick Mann. Taylor then sent Alex Reid in on a breakaway who slotted home for the 1-0 lead. Rangers responded with some pressure of their own. Best chance for them this half was probably the deflected FK volley from one of their middies just outside the 18.  It was a knuckling ball that Greg did well to save with no rebound. They also were upset on a crossed ball in the box that Greg came out to claim but dropped after colliding with a Roo defender and a Rangers player. Most think the foul was called on the Ranger player for interfering with Greg, but from my sideline view i thought it was for the player pushing our defender (either way it was called). Time winding down the game became increasing littered with fouls. Rangers did some curious time wasting late in the game by kicking away balls after fouls or offside calls depsite them behind 1-0. Nick Fetterman was unfortunately sent off for two late tackles on double yellows. No harm in the fouls so sad for him as he's a good guy and probably had just those two fouls all game. On the FK right after the send off, deep into stoppage time as well, Sammarco hit his shot off the wall, but it fell right to Garrett Rehner who hit a perfect shot to the back post for the 2-0 lead. Whistle came shortly after. 

Full credit to Rangers. They played well defensively and almost caught us on a couple breaks. coulda been 1-1 but on the balance of play I thought we deserved the win. Maybe they feel different. Best of luck to them with the rest of their regular season and playoff battle. 

Roos now face former baby sister club in Sporting Roos or whatever they are calling themselves these days in the Elite 8.