After last evenings emotional loss the question on the minds of many was how would the Hawks respond against an Indiana team that came out on top at their last meeting with the Hawks 3-2. Indiana comes into the match with a 2 wins and 3 losses giving them 9 points against a Cincinnati team with 1 win and 3 losses along with 4 points.
The 1st half starts in Cincinnati with both teams trying their best to play some good attacking soccer. Each teams defensive backs played outstanding soccer with Hawk midfielder Rick Roettker rising to the occasion with some powerful headers. But, as soon as the Hawks would try to gain some momentum after clearing the ball the Blast defenders would step up and win the the ball from the Hawks attackers. The Hawks failed to stop the Blast when McDermott placed a 25 yard shot in to the far corner giving the Blast the 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. With the Hawks down 1-0 and the Hawks anxious to get one back a mistake was made in the 14th minute giving the Blast’s Donaldson the opportunity to fire a shot that hit the crossbar sending the ball to the ground and into the goal. With the Hawks down 2-0 now the team looked as if they were ready to fold up the tent but it didn’t last for long. With a cross from Kazuba in the 24th minute Muccino tallied home a goal putting the Hawks closer at 2-1. The Hawks kept pressing with adventurous play. Indiana however was not about to let down. They were playing a more physical game trying to tell the Hawks that they were not to be taken easily. From the 35th minute on till the end of the 1st half Indiana received 3 cautions. The first half finished with the score standing at 2-1 in favor of the Blast.
Starting the 2nd half the teams made a couple of changes. Coming on for the Blast was Allen for Keznan and the Hawks replaced Matis with Labatista. Early on into the 2nd half at the 49th minute Blast midfielder McDermott who scored their 1st goal received his second caution of the evening leaving his team a player short. The game proceeded on with the Hawks trying to take advantage of the player send off. The Hawks did take advantage by being able to keep possession for a longer period and getting more shots off. Finding the mark however was proving to be difficult. In the 70th minute Nicola Ranieri made a substituition replacing Shawn Rockey with Lowey. With Lowey now in the game it was evident that he was hungry. A necessary spark had been added and the Hawks were now on the attack. In the 80th minute however Allen who came on at the half scored the 3rd goal for the Blast off and assist from Donaldson. Everyone expecting the Hawks to pack it in at this late stage of the game expected wrong. In the 83rd minute Labastida scored a goal putting the score at 3-2. The Hawks were still alive. Could they take advantage of the ball possession that they had now? With the final whistle in sight, Labastida took a corner. The cross came in and everyone sees a player with a different colored jersey rise up from among the crowd. Estrada the Hawks keeper came up, connected with the head ball and place a shot into the net. The Hawks and the fans went ballistic. The Hawks had now tied up the score in the 90th minute at 3-3 and the Blast were at a loss of words.
The 1st overtime period started and the pressure was kept on the Blast. The Hawks continued to press forward. Nothing could come of the forward progress in the first overtime period so the game went on to the 2nd overtime period. At the 109th minute a Hawks player was brought down in what seemed to be the penalty area. The Blast’s defender Parrish then received the red card for the foul and the ball placed at the edge of the penalty area. A shot was taken at the goal with the ball coming out to Labastida who then passed it over to Alcero who promptly put the ball in goal giving the game’s points to the Hawks. What a finish!!!
Final Score. Cincinnati 4 Indiana 3
LINEUPS
Cincinnati – 1-Estrada; 21-Mercik; 20-Pickup; 30-Adams; 5-Roettker; 11-Rockey (10-Lowey 70th); 31-Longo; 15-Burlew (23-Alcero 75th); 9-Matis (10-Labistida 45th); 32-Muccino; 16-Kazuba
Indiana – 1-Lynk; 19-Parrish; 16-Keznan (14-Allen 45th); 15-Less (3-Knott 90th); 17-Baah; 9-Donaldson; 6-Otteson; 23-McDermott; 8-Tenoff (11-Prosser 79th); 10-Costa (12-Weiger 79th); 4-Dresser (5-Sweeney 62nd)
STATS Cincinnati Indiana
1st half 2nd half OT Total 1st half 2nd half OT Total
Shots on goal 7 14 5 26 9 7 1 17
Saves 1 2 1 4 1 6 1 8
Corners 2 4 1 7 3 7 1 11
Fouls 13 6 4 23 11 5 2 18
Offside 2 1 3 6 4 2 1 7
Cautions and Ejections
Caution – 16:30 Muccino CIN
Caution – 34:35 Costa IND
Caution – 40:40 McDermott IND
Caution – 43:00 Otteson IND
Caution – 44:00 Adams CIN
Caution (2nd Ejection) – McDeromott IND
Caution – 80:00 Alcero CIN
Caution – 82:00 Weiger IND
Caution – 94:40 Allen IND
Caution – 99:00 Pickup CIN
Caution – 107:00 Keznan IND
Ejection – 109:00 Parrish IND
Goals
Indiana 11- McDermott
Indiana 13- Donaldson
Cincinnati 24- Muccino (Assist- Kazuba)
Indiana 80- Allen (Assist- Donaldson)
Cincinnati 83- Labastida
Cincinnati 90- Estrada (Assist- Labastida)
Cincinnati 109- Alcero
Man of the match: Estrada
Attendance: 400
