FC QUAKE 3 HONEY BADGERS 0

Was a perfect night for some Tehel Cup action, glad we were able to work out a reschedule. Another game for us with solid numbers 17, and an opponent with no or little subs, Badgers had exactly 11.

Game started off pretty slow to be honest. We came in wanting to try some people in different spots and were pretty relaxed, too relaxed in 1st half. That all said we held the ball at least 60-40 and after watching the film, had a couple bad bad offsides calls wipe out goals. In fact we had 3 wiped out from offsides, 2 of which after reviewing were absolutely not off. This Ref crew wasn't the sharpest you could say... I digress

Other than the 2 goals called back (Mammoliti/Mastrangelo), Mammoliti had a couple real good looks as well at a goal in the half but was unable to connect. Heeter had a good look as well. Their GK and D did a great job getting a piece of couple shots and through balls that were otherwise going to be at least shots on goals. We surrendered one decent chance to Badgers in the half but Eaton was able to handle the shot right at him. Halftime we made little changes other than making sure the boys showed some more urgency 2nd half. That we did.

All 3 of our goals were quite simple, nice to watch goals. First around 55' mark was a couple quick passes opening up room for Heeter down the left wing. He neatly collected a pass, cut back to his right and sent in a cross to a streaking Mammoliti who calmly headed past the helpless GK and into the back of the net. 1-0 FCQ.
goal number 2, after pretty much 100% FCQ possession for 5-10' and having a 3rd goal wiped out by a mystery offsides, was much of the same but from the right side and off the foot of Fisher. Fisher sprung himself free to the corner after beating his man and played a crisp low cross to around the 6-8 yard mark where Mammoliti again was first to the ball and directed it squarely past the charging GK into the corner. 2-0 FCQ 70'. We got pretty relaxed for a good stretch after this and made a couple too many subs, losing our form for about a 10' stretch that forced Eaton to be called upon on 3 different occasions. Two of which were decently dangerous. He was up to the task to preserve his 4th S/O of the season despite playing with the flu, gutty effort and much appreciated from all. Goal 3, we turned Badgers over in their half. 2 or 3 passes found Mammoliti in space who fed Fisher to the left corner of the 18. Fish took a shot that was kick-saved by the GK back out to him. Beat his man with a quick touch and setup a nice square cross right onto the foot of Mastrangelo who made no mistake finishing firmly on the volley. 3-0 FCQ 82' ish.

Rest of the match played out rather uneventfully and victory beers were cracked for a 7th consecutive W on our bench postgame. Good game and good luck to Badgers rest of their season. They are learning D1 is a big step up from D2 it would seem, and playing with 11 or 12 men isn't going to cut it here. Hopefully they can get some better numbers late in the season and keep themselves above the relegation line.

We now look forward (maybe moreso backwards?) to a date with BSC Raiders in the next round. We will learn how good we are at the perverbial "parking of the bus," Iceland v. Argentina style on that day!