Match Review - Blitz vs Pumas

Pumas slip past Blitz

Blitz 4 - 5 Pumas
(HT 2-4)

In an incident filled match Pumas, ending up with 9 men, managed to hold on for a 5-4 victory against the Blitz.

Blitz started well against 10 men, controlling the play and passing the ball around well. They took an early lead after a break down the left side, Mark M. crossed to Scott and he managed to bundle the ball home for a deserved lead. Pumas added an extra player and started to get back into the match. Their speed up front started to cause Blitz problems on the counter attack and resulted in a couple of quick goals. Blitz quickly struck back, Kerry pushed into midfield and made a great run into the left hand corner but was fouled before he could get the cross in. Mark M. crossed in the free kick to Mark T. who hit the bar with a great header; it came out to Gummi to head in the equalizer.

Pumas then started to gain some control and quickly struck twice to take a 4-2 lead into half time. Some poor defensive play by Blitz and the pace of the attack allowed Pumas to get ahead.

The second half started with Blitz taking the advantage and controlling the game. Their play was much better and Pumas were mostly confined to their own half. Blitz had made some adjustments at half time with Mark T. moving back to sweeper. For a change, there were not many chances at the start of the second half and the score remained the same although Blitz continued to have more of the play. With about 20 minutes left in the game the breakthrough for Blitz came. A poor defensive clearance by Pumas went straight to Mark M. and he fed it to Gummi for a calculated finish. 4-3, Blitz were in with a shot until about three minutes later, a long clearance and a quick counter attack led to a 5-3 Pumas lead – Blitz looked dead and buried.

The game roared back to life after a dirty off the ball challenge by one of the Pumas players – out came the red card and Pumas were down to 10 men. Blitz quickly took advantage, Gummi played a ball to Kevin about thirty yards from goal, Kevin went past two defenders then held off a third to finish neatly in the corner. With less than 10 minutes to go Blitz were in with a shout. Another Pumas player saw red for an off the ball challenge leaving Blitz in the ascendancy. A handball in the box was not given and an indirect free kick from eight yards were not enough to bring Blitz level. All in all a tough game that the Blitz could have won with some tighter defending.

Blitz lineup: Alex, Alex, Kerry, Glenn, Eric, Tyler, Kevin, Mark T, Scott, Mark M, Gummi.

Goals: Gummi (2)(3), Mark T (1)(2), Kevin.