CRU 2 – Struggle FC 2
Dear constant reader of the most popular D2 AMSA blog in the city of Austin, after a week’s absence in the fine fine state of Mississippi, I am back to report on what was a valiant second half comeback yesterday against old nemesis Struggle FC. Although everyone could reach out an touch the win that should have been, going down by two goals and then storming back to tie the game put a smile on everyone’s face.
Cameron Road came out strong with 15 or 16 players showing up early for an 8:00 am game. Hangovers and early morning drives be damned! We started out lively in our newly favored 4-3-3 formation, showing some promise with early attacks while Struggle were still a man down. To be honest, 8:00 am on Sunday seems like a long time, many too many hours in the sun, and a few six pack of beers ago, so I’m doing my best to dig up the memories of just what happened in the first half.
I do remember that we failed to clear a ball out of the back about midway through the half and Struggle pounced on our mistake to go up by a goal. Really shouldn’t have happened, but those are the kinds of mistakes that can be easily fixed. We did our best to fight back, notably with the young McKenna blazing a path down the left hand side and either blasting off shots, or sending in quality crosses. One of those crosses landed at the feet of BT who was setting up shop at the top of the box, his low drive went agonizingly wide though. Another good chance came off a corner kick when Cuyler drove in a header but was out-bearded by the Struggle keeper who was sporting a massive reverse mountain of bear fur on his lower face.
Still pressing for the equalizer, the first half ended with another McKenna play down the left and this time his cross found my leaping head, but a mid-air collision with the Struggle defender kept the ball out of the back of the net.
The start of the second half was back and forth stuff, but Cameron Road finally found a good balance within the midfield and front line pinging the ball around, tracking back and trying to find an opening. Positive play for sure, but still no goal. Then another misfortunate failure to clear a routing ball out of the back saw a Struggle player send in a looping shot with a pitching wedge and just like that we were down 0-2 with only 30 minutes to play.
However, like Maverick clutching Goose’s dog tags and listening to pleas from the Iceman, we got back into the game. Thanks to a fantastic piece of teamwork, we worked the ball around with several passes that ended up with Billy lofting a perfect cross in the 6 yard box for Steve McKenna to head home for his third goal in three games and more importantly, our lifeline back into this one. Smelling chum in the water, Cameron Road was out for blood and could taste the salty meat of victory in the dancing waves of the crystal clear deep ocean water… wait, what the did I just say? Forget that Jaws metaphor, I got caught up in the moment… anyway, feeling a comeback in the air, we pressed forward for the tying goal. And fortunately for us, we found it. With Cuyler playing at left-bearded-midfield, he stormed down the touchline where I made a run to the near post. His low cross found me just as the keeper was coming out to stop it, and I got the tip of my size 13 Puma on the ball before he did. As both of us went down in a heap, Scott was there like a duck on a junebug to tap in the equalizer from inside the box. Much fist pumping and chest bumping ensued.
Still not satisfied, we continued to pile on the pressure for the winner. Cuyler send in a looping shot that just dipped over the bar. BT had another shot from the top of the box go just wide and another out-of-thin-air volley go wide as well. Steve and Willis did their best to dribble through the solid wall of 10 players at the back to get us a goal, but in the end, we had to settle for a well deserved draw.
Man-of-the-Match: Turning in a fantastic performance on Sunday was the recent birthday boy Scott. He played left midfield, left back, was johnny on the spot with the equalizing goal and brought the beer. Nice job Scotty, the Cameron Road Board of Trustees will put your MOTM winning half priced Arby’s roast beef sandwich coupon in the mail post haste.
Man-of-the-Post-Match: For the man of the post match award, all one had to do while watching the first half bore-fest on the pitch between Inter Milan and Austin Blues was turn your head skyward to peer upon the majesty of the most massive of clouds that stretched from tree line to tree line. It was like the Never Ending Story had come to Onion Creek. Well done o’masterful magic carpet ride of pure white cumulo nimbus.
