CRU Shoots for the Stars, but Settles for a 1-1 Draw with the Cosmos

Week two of Over 30B saw last year’s #1 and #2 teams face off for the first time. After coming off a disappointing loss last Sunday, the Honey Badgers were eager to restart the season and get some points on the board.

Cameron Road welcomed back a big chunk of the defense as Danimal, Cuyler, Dave and Crosley all were on the pitch. This came in quite handy as Jefe was confined to the tent with a broken arm. Apparently breaking his arm did nothing to dampen his heightened spirits on the sidelines.

With a muggy 4:00 start time looming, both teams took the field to see what they were missing from not facing each other last season. Cosmos were the better team in the first 35 minutes. They pressed Cameron Road and had several shots clank off the woodwork. Offensively, Cameron Road had their moments to shine, but too often the crosses went too high, or too short. Never just right.

Although Cosmos started off strong, Cameron Road heated up and took the final 15 minutes of the half but couldn’t manage to get the opening goal.

It was a typical second half. Tempers started to flair, tackles were flying in, passes were going astray as both teams tried to break the deadlock. The Honey Badgers still looked a bit frantic between the stripes, not settling down into mid-season championship form.

Cosmos took the lead with a close shot about midway through the second half. (CRU just can’t seem to play from in front these days…)

After the Cosmos goal, it was a frantic finish as the Honey Badgers scraped and clawed to get back into the game. With some positively Suarezlike footwork, Steve worked his way to the edge of the box to set up Adam for a close range shot. Stripy nearly turned the corner on the keeper on the right side of the penalty box as Ryan played him in with a through ball. Ryan also had a shout for a penalty after beating his man twice only to end up with a facefull of turf. Gigi Gianluca went ballistic on any ref in sight as the Cosmos nipped at his heals. And Steve missed high on a free kick from 20 yards.

Cameron Road also poured in a myriad of corners and it just seemed like the goal was coming.

And with minutes to spare, come it did.

Someone (probably Dave or Crosley) sent a ball into Chappy deep on the left hand side. Skipping around his man (some might say lumbering), Chappy heard Danimal’s battle cry, “TOP OF THE BOX,” and sent in a rather buoyant cross to the lurking defender. Danimal climbed the ladder and sent a powerful header towards the keeper. With one of his only mistakes during the game, the hulking pipesman spilled the shot into the path of Ryan who latched onto it and sent it into the far corner with his Mizonic left foot. Cameron Road was back in the game, but didn’t have enough time to complete the comback win.

Men-of-the-Match: With a clutch last minute play, Danny and Ryan rescued a point for the Honey Badgers. Ryan continued his good form from last week, and Danny also was his usual wrecking ball self on defense.