[lytic]

Midwest Ice Storm FC - SouthPark Cows 3 - 1

Date: 9/11/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 9609227
Arena: Midwest Ice Storm FC Arena
Crowd: 1481

Weather conditions were fairly good for football, and Midwest Ice Storm FC Arena saw a crowd turnout of 1481. Midwest had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Lin-Chuen - Webb, Jack, Abney - Champion, Alcaide, Geiger, Wegrzyn, Escobar - Crook, Rodríguez.

SouthPark had chosen a strategic 5-3-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Barfield - Wilhelm, Danhof, An, Tewari, Hwang - Doménech, Bernbratt, Crain - Donaldson, Orkola.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of SouthPark, and they seem formidable at it. Jeff Abney seemed to be floating in the air at will as he elegantly headed in 1-0. The previous Midwest corner kick was executed by Michael Webb. Clayton Donaldson made a good effort at breaking through from the right, but the home team left defence cleared the ball to a corner. Midwests William Jack got himself booked after a foul. The crowd was silenced in the 32nd minute as the visiting teams Dong-Sung An came in from the left, levelling the score to 1 - 1. Midwest could have put themselves ahead in the 33rd minute as William Jack missed a volley shot on a ball coming in from the right. The home side put themselves ahead 2 - 1 in the 41st by a breakthrough from Jeff Abney, who unaided came in out of the right wing hooking the ball over the visitors keeper. SouthPark´s Clayton Donaldson left the field after 42 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was Sven Gustavsson. The teams went for a half-time break at 2 - 1. Midwest held the ball, with a clear 59 percent possession rate.

After an industrious effort down the middle Pablo Rodríguez could have closed the game off in the 49:th minute, but his finishing shot hit the post. With 73 minutes played Jeffrey Crook could have brought this one home for Midwest, had his hooked ball gone in, but it went just a bit too high. SouthPark were close to putting the equaliser away in the 74:th minute as the opposing defence lost control of the ball in a scuffle in front of the goal, but in the end the ball was cleared over the sideline. With 85 minutes played the visitors almost levelled the score. Steve Crain shot a hard curved free kick, striking the post. After 90 minutes Jeffrey Crook put Midwest ahead 3 - 1 as he rose to head in a hooked ball, the result of an effort from the right side. SouthPark seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team. Midwest held the ball, with a clear 63 percent possession rate.

The most dominating Midwest player was without a doubt Chen Lin-Chuen. Pablo Rodríguez on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating SouthPark player was without a doubt Reuben Wilhelm. However, Lance Barfield made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 1.

Team Attitude: Normal

RATING

Midwest Ice Storm FC
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: inadequate
Right Side Defence: passable
Central Defence: passable
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: formidable
Central Attack: excellent
Left Side Attack: outstanding

SouthPark Cows
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: outstanding
Left Side Defence: formidable
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: poor


Early exit out of the cup again... it was fun to play with a counter-attack, though it didn't really seem to help all that much.