WIN: CRU 2 – AAC 0 – Badgers Bounce Back With Big Win

Needing a win in the worst way, there were good signs headed to the field on Sunday. The tent was back and Ciro was warming up in his full uniform. He claimed he was just testing his calf out, but after actually setting up the tent on the sideline after the game started, he decided to give it a go on the pitch, bringing the sub total to a bountiful three Badgers. Gianluca was also back to partner up with Derek up top, giving the Honey Badgers their full arsenal of goal-scoring talent at the tip of the spear.

Austin Athletic Club might be the only team having a worse season that Cameron Road, but they packed the sidelines with some of their Over 50 Premier players in a show of force. No matter, a desperate honey badger is a ferocious opponent and a few more bodies on the sidelines weren’t going to intimidate.

The game started off nicely with Cameron Road controlling things. Austin Athletic were frequent visitors to the CRU end of the pitch, but the defense was shutting them down by cutting of passing lanes, clearing balls from danger and providing Jaybone Thugs’n Harmony with a protective blanket of headers, elbows, shins and elbows.

Big Dave was first up to sacrifice himself as one of the AAC attackers was about to turn him and run free on goal, but Dave stuck out a foot for a nicely timed tackle to earn a “business decision” yellow card and stop the attack with the free kick being subsequently turned away.

At the other end of the field, Andy and Gianluca were busy running up and down, but the breakout moment came as CP got the ball to Gigi down the center of the box where he barreled towards goal, only to be upended by a defender at the last minute, earning Cameron Road a penalty kick that Derek smashed home with ease. 1-0 Honey Badgers about midway through the first half.

Things were starting to look good for Cameron Road. Ciro was back on the wing getting some minutes in and testing the tiny calf. Yunir and Schwarzy were patrolling the midfield. The defense was looking solid.

With Adam gone, there were backup oranges at halftime with the thought that things were going well, but one more goal would sure be nice.

The second half was more of the same as Cameron Road pressed the issue. To add a little levity to the proceedings, Chappy tried to kick a ball over his head on the touch line and instead smashed the ball right off his face. And speaking of taking one in the face, later in the half an AAC player rifled one right off Guillermo’s face and tried to claim a hand ball… causing Guillermo to momentarily lose his mind.

The Badgers were getting in deep and causing trouble for AAC. There were booming Danimal free kicks, Gigi and Schwarzy had a fast break, Chappy hit a weak rebound towards the goal, and Derek was doing that cutback thing.

At the back, the defense was still standing strong, even though Billy blew himself out of both soles of his cleats somehow.

The final nail in the ACC coffin came as Derek set up to take a corner kick. Immediately upon setting the ball in flight, Gianluca was on the move and absolutely crushed a bullet-header into the back of the net, giving the keeper no chance. 2-0 Honey Badgers, and that’s all she wrote.

The Badgers got their much-needed win and it was the most satisfying post-game in a while.

Man-of-the-Match: Billy played himself right out of the soles of his cleats. Impressive.

Post-Match-Report: Andy iced Ciro. Danimal was given an ovation for behaving like a gentleman. AAC left early. Jesus has a new truck.