Yemen Elite 3- OP Alliance 2

An excited OP Alliance took the field at Martin Road Elementary. A chance to beat a team from the top league and the team who was in the final of last year's Tehel Cup. That excitement was short lived. Yemen was able to demonstrate the difference in the leagues very quickly. 3 quick breakaway goals killed the Alliance's excitement half way through the first half. Yemen easily dominated the rest of the half riding the momentum they gained early on. Going into half, things looked to get even worse for OP when #10 was taken down in the box for a called penalty. However, #10 admitted he fell on his own attempting a bicycle kick. The referee had already made the call and pointed to the spot. #10 stepped up to take it. But instead he passed the ball safely out of bounds instead. Class act for sure.

Coming out of half time, things looked to be going the same way as before. The only difference was that OP was able to create some offensive chances on occasion and their defense, led by replacement center back T. Roder and Johnson, was able to limit high quality scoring chances forcing shots to come from afar allowing replacement 3rd string goalie Mike Reilly to save quite comfortably.

Then, a well placed pass put J. Saeli on a break 1 v 1 with the Yemen goalie. Instead of shooting, he calmly passed the ball over to McMaster who made no mistake in getting his 6th goal of the year. This seemed to give OP a little more life and the game was very even the rest of the way. OP's second came after a long possession in the offensive third. Kohl was able to get past a man on the top of the box and created space for his left foot to make solid contact with the ball and slot itself beautifully into the bottom corner of the net. 3-2. OP scrabbled but never found the equalizer to keep their cup hopes alive.

It would be wrong to say that the result wasn't a fair result. Yemen was certainly the better side. But, with a full squad, OP could've came away with the win. The game was not totally lopsided as you would expect. OP also proved that they would play a full 90 and possess the capability to bury their chances when they come. Good luck to Yemen Elite in league and cup play.

Hey great job, you should be proud of a result like that against a top tier team for sure!