Season 3 – League Match #8
Screamin’ Seamen vs. Syracuse Supers
Date: May 25th, 2003
Venue: The Docks (Chicago, IL)
Attendance: 15,703 (30,000)
Weather: Rain
Today we’ve got our rubber-match against the Syracuse Supers, who we defeated on the road 2-nil last week. Despite the ejection of midfielder Pete “The Old Goat” Tomlin, we still managed a dominant performance against the lowly Supers, and do not foresee having any trouble with them again this week. Considering that we are home this time around, we expect nothing less than a blow-out.
Previous Meetings
5/19/2003 – Syracuse Supers 0, Screamin’ Seamen 2
Formation: 3-5-2
Starters
Keeper: #1 Cornelius “Corny” Jernigan
Right Wingback: #5 Arlen Lucas
Central Defender: #2 Chuck Scales
Left Wingback: #22 Tyler Willard
Right Winger: #9 Valentin Rubio
Inner Midfielder: #8 Niklas Ivarsson
Inner Midfielder: #7 Lucian Tere
Inner Midfielder: #6 Charlie Bautista
Left Winger: #3 Ben McMahon
Forward: #12 Guido Metman
Forward: #15 Forrest “Gump” Tobias
Team Captain: #12 Guido Metman
Set Pieces: #3 Ben McMahon
Substitutes
-Keeper: #13 Darryl Read
-Defender: #17 Mattias Leier
-Midfielder: #19 Jerry Smith
-Forward: #14 Jesper Gravesen
-Winger: #10 Olav Mauffret
Our lineup is pretty much identical to last week’s, with one notable exception. Pete “The Old Goat” Tomlin managed to get himself ejected from last week’s match, and is therefore suspended from playing today as well. Our big Romanian midfielder Lucian Tere will start today in his place. Otherwise, it’s business-as-usual for the Seamen today.
Match Report
PRE-GAME
15703 spectators had found their way to The Docks, despite the heavy rain.
Screamin' started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Jernigan - Lucas, Scales, Willard - Rubio, Ivarsson, Tere, Bautista, Mcmahon - Metman, Tobias.
Syracuse had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Trahan - Muñoz, Walls, Lockwood - Dominguez, Brown, Varner, Stokes, Heller - Askensten, Mcnamara.
FIRST HALF
Screamin's Forrest Tobias gave, after 6 minutes, the home team a 1 - 0 lead after an attack coming in from the right.
Valentín Rubio increased Screamin's lead to 2 - 0 by putting a header away on a hooked ball from the right.
Valentín Rubio was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the enemy box - Forrest Tobias managed to kick one of them into 3 - 0 in the 23rd minute. By now Screamin' were drawing the troops back in order to defend their lead.
Jordi Dominguez could´ve grabbed a goal in the 25:th minute when he got a pass putting him free of the home side´s defence, but he was unable to take advantage of the situation.
Guido Metman should probably have put his team up another goal in the 25:th minute, but some great goaltending by Francis Trahan kept the visitors in the game.
Syracuse will have to do without Harold Lockwood for a time due to a bad foot injury. He was substituted by Hugh Moya.
The teams went for a half-time break at 3 - 0. Screamin' held the ball, with a clear 56 percent possession rate.
SECOND HALF
Anders Askensten had a hard time on the water infested pitch - his trademark technique was nowhere in sight this day.
Things were going to get worse for the visitors. Chuck Scales squirmed himself through the central defense line in the 59:th minute, asserting the lead to 4 - 0.
Screamin' held the ball, with a clear 55 percent possession rate.
POST-GAME
Most important Screamin' player was Tyler Willard. Lucian Tere on the other hand, had a terrible day.
Most important Syracuse player was Don Brown. Hugh Moya on the other hand, had a terrible day.
Final Score: Screamin’ Seamen 4, Syracuse Supers 0
Goals
Tobias – 2 (4,5,GWG)
Rubio – 1 (1)
Scales – 1 (1)
Cards
None
Player Ratings
Jernigan: ***
Lucas: ****
Scales: ***~
Willard: ****
Rubio: **~
Ivarsson: ***~
Tere: **
Bautista: ***
McMahon: **~
Metman: **~
Tobias: **~
Team Match MVP: #22 Tyler Willard
Team Ratings
Screamin’ Seamen
-Midfield: Passable (6)
-Right Defense: Brilliant (11)
-Central Defense: Brilliant (11)
-Left Defense: Magnificent (12)
-Right Attack: Solid (7)
-Central Attack: Passable (6)
-Left Attack: Passable (6)
-NSI: 71
Syracuse Supers
-Midfield: Inadequate (5)
-Right Defense: Inadequate (5)
-Central Defense: Passable (6)
-Left Defense: Poor (3)
-Right Attack: Solid (7)
-Central Attack: Inadequate (5)
-Left Attack: Inadequate (5)
-NSI: 46
Comments
Today proved to be a nice, easy win, and will most likely be the last one of those we experience this season. Lucian filled in well enough for “The Old Goat” in the middle, and Valentin Rubio had himself a fine day on the wing, scoring his first goal as a Seaman and assisting one of Forrest “Gump” Tobias’ two goals. Central defender Chuck Scales added his first goal of the season (the 5th of his career), and keeper Cornelius “Corny” Jernigan recorded his tenth career clean sheet.
Series Scores and Standings
-For the second week in a row, Neon Genesis Evangelion defeated Big Reds, 2-1.
-Croats in Miami remained on top this week, downing SoccerWussies, 3-1.
-Ramblers managed to slip past Sweden Heights, 2-1
No. Team Played Goals Pts.
1. Croats in Miami 8 24-7 19
2. Big Reds 8 16-6 16
3. Screamin’ Seamen* 8 15-10 14
4. Ramblers 8 16-13 13
5. SoccerWussies 8 13-16 12
6. Sweden Heights 8 14-16 10
7. Neon Genesis Evangelion 8 18-20 9
8. Syracuse Supers 8 1-29 0
By virtue of the Big Reds’ second consecutive loss, Croats in Miami are now in sole possession of first place. We moved up from 4th to 3rd place this week, but things are exceptionally tight. Only four points separate 2nd place from 5th.
Week 9 Matchups
Neon Genesis Evangelion vs. Screamin’ Seamen
SoccerWussies vs. Big Reds
Sweden Heights vs. Croats in Miami
Syracuse Supers vs. Ramblers
Neon Genesis Evangelion have really stepped up their play as of late (funny how the threat of automatic relegation can do that), and we will be taking next week’s match against them very seriously. NGE has won three of their last four (their one loss being against us back in week six). We will need to win if we’re going to maintain third place, as we expect the Croats, Big Reds, and Ramblers all to win their respective matches.
Up Next: FOFC Cup III group play continues, as we travel to the Sunny South of France to take on the Fantastic Flying Froggies. Stay tuned!