SPORT | Multiverse Premier League
Cup disappointment as Raedburg are knocked out
Thursday, June 4, 2015Raedburg 2-3 Thereisnogodistan FC (A.E.T)
The National Cup defeat to Mortoge still haunted the Raedburg players and supporters alike as the MPL Cup tie against Thereisnogodistan FC got underway. Perhaps Dako Redfield and the Dragons’ could make up for their loss by making it through to the semi-finals.
Thereisnogodistan had a chance to take the lead in the first ten minutes through Hugo Willmore, but an acrobatic save from Dako Zienen was more than enough to deny the striker and allowed Kale Kazern to create an attack. The right back played a through ball far up the field to Ricardo Rubin on the wing, and the Teremultese international beat a defender before whipping a cross into the box. A headed effort from Lewis Gill was saved by Arrendondo.
In the 33rd minute, right winger Olen Celis received a great pass from Rob Rockmore, and the player went on to beat Zienen and put Thereisnogodistan a goal up. Before half time Toni Kroos was denied by stopper Arrendondo at the other end, and Raedburg were punished through a counter attack after the save as Willmore increased the visiting side’s lead to 2-0.
Despite being two goals down heading into the second half, various saves from Zienen and an outstanding solo goal from Lewis Gill brought Raedburg back into the game. The Zitran stopper saved shots from scorers Willmore and Celis before 23-year-old Gill utilized his skillful dribbling to beat several defenders before going on to chip the ball over Arrendondo’s head as the score became 2-1.
It looked apparent that, with just four minutes until the final whistle, Thereisnogodistan FC would knock Raedburg out of the MPL Cup and crush the club’s hopes of another international cup run. Redfield was quick to take off fatigued Rubin and bring on Argentine midfielder Di Maria as his replacement, who would turn out to be the savior of regular time. After latching onto Gill’s through pass, the 29-year-old made a fast run down the right, cut inside the 18-yard-box, and fired home an unstoppable shot which brought Thereisnogodistan FC back to earth as the score was 2-2 at full time.
But it just wasn’t meant to be. While the first half of extra-time was almost all Raedburg, the visitors turned the tables in the second period of fifteen as Hugo Willmore netted his second goal of the game to potentially book his side a place in the semi-finals of the competition. Celis’ corner found the striker in the box, and he headed home past Zienen to make it 3-2. And when the final whistle blew, hopes of a possible MPL double were killed.
Destiny Airlines Man of the Match: Angel Di Maria - The midfielder kept Raedburg in the match with a stunning last minute goal, but couldn’t quite save the Dragons from defeat despite a fantastic performance.