FC77 Rangers 6:3 KMA

FC77 Rangers 6 - 3 KMA

(Snyder 14'; Radigan 24', 80'; Bennouri 40'; Switzer 65'; Muralt 90'+2')

A lot of things about a football team can be measured and quantified. Goals can recorded and tallied, sure, and if we had some access to some fancy-schmancy equipment we could calculate the total distance every player on the pitch ran during the course of the game, like they do in UEFA Champion's League matches. But one thing that will never be measured by the cold hand of science is heart. Well, unless we are actually measuring the diameter of a heart...which we could do with a CT scanner, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the true essence and drive that keeps a team playing with only ten players against a fit, well-kitted opponent and not just "holding their own", but actually taking the lead on multiple occasions until the rival's spirit is broken and we win in glorious fashion. That kind of heart, my Ranger friends, will never be measured...unless we try to equate that with some kind of electro-cardio output level...which we could measure technically with an EKG...but whatever. These diagnostic modalities are playing hell with my awesome intro.

Starting X:

DeBar, goalkeeper

Vogel - Bauman - Pullen, fullbacks

Snyder, holding midfielder

Bennouri - Muralt - Ingersoll, midfielders

Switzer, forward

Reserves: Calkins (midfield)

Match Day Two of the GPSD Rose City 0-30 Third saw new (and stylish) squad KMA come calling to the Montessori Earth School. With their sharp dark gray Liverpool third away style kits that even featured Premiership numbers and matching shorts, the away side showed up with a traveling squad of about fifteen or sixteen. 'Gers, due to a combination of family/coaching/male medical procedure recovery reasons, could only boast ten at kick-off when referee Ernie blew the match to a start. But you know, I'll take my ten boys over just about anybody else most any day of the week. Though I prefer eleven and really dig thirteen. Whatever. Thus began another epic clash within the wavy lines of the MES.

KMA--which your investigative manager soon learned means "Kiss My Ass"--came out to play ball and tested stand-in keeper DeBar early on with some wing work and midrange shots. The Yellow and Black's 3-1-3-2 formation absorbed the early play and countered with our signature midfield control and distribution. Sensing that KMA's proverbial Achilles heel may have been their outside backs, the home side went to work taking the ball down the flanks and crossing it back into the middle. Such was the case when Snyder, fulling celebrating the roll of holding midfielder, rushed forward, took a cross from the right near the top of the box, juked the keeper to his knees and then with steely calm and composure, soft-shoed to the left and passed it into an empty net. 1-0 Rangers.

The opposition rallied back and equalized a bit later on a well-played corner kick that found their forward going high and putting a shot in with a respectable header. At 1-1, a lot of teams would have been content to turtle up and "go Italian", waiting for a set play to exploit the advantage. That's not how the Yellow and Black rolls, baby. Around the twenty-fourth minute, Radigan picked the center back's pocket so totally the KMA player literally just stood there in surprise while Aaron ran forward and beat the stymied keeper near side. Another equalizing goal followed soon thereafter on circumstances that escape me, but 'Gers got their eleventh player in the form of Calkins who showed up like the calvary, or maybe Gandalf the White in "LOTR: The Two Towers" and gave the home side numerical equivalency. Soon thereafter, Muralt (I think, apologies if I have it incorrect) played through a lovely ball up the middle. Bennouri timed his run to perfection--he was at least two paces onside when the ball was passed--and despite the protestations of the hopelessly beaten KMA back line, cooly took the keeper one on one and beat him to the right. Another equalizer followed and the sides finished the first 45 at 3 -3.

The second half is not always Rangers friend. This time, however, it was our "friend with benefits" and she had one too many Cosmos, if you know what I mean. Playing an inspired half of attacking football, Rangers pretty much set up camp in the KMA half of the pitch and launched easily twenty or so shots at the beleaguered keeper. Switzer opened his Rangers scoring account with a tidy finish twenty minutes in, cutting inside from the right to find the net. He came close on several other occasions--and maybe not so close on one or two others--but was an integral part of the attack all day. Radigan got his brace about ten minutes from time and Muralt closed out the afternoon with the sweetest free kick you have ever seen not taken by a metrosexual Portuguese winger from Madrid. (Yes, I know I used that phrase already in my team email, but oh how I love it.) Muralt was brought down hard just outside of the box deep into injury time. It was a frustration foul, to be sure, but more than a little unnecessary. Muralt responded with a strike to the corner that had just a hint of a curve to it. To emphasize the awesomeness of the shot, Vogel then proceeded to taunt the opposition with something along the lines of, "Oh! Cheap foul and he scores on the free kick! Nice retaliation shot!" I'm sure I have misquoted our stalwart Canadian utility player, but you gotta love a little sweet comeuppance. The match ended immediately thereafter and 'Gers went 2-0 for the season.

Bauman, Vogel, Snyder, and Pullen did a fantastic job keeping DeBar bored in the second half. I recall our stickminder had to make two or three saves--and did them well--but I think with Switzer's goal we were definitely the side in the ascendancy and certainly "took our chances," as the commentators like to say. Calkins' "super sub" entry gave the side much needed energy and width through the middle and he played hell with KMA's left back. That leaves me and I did my usual shift of running up and down the left side, shooting the ball over the framework, and yelling "Middies back!" on counters. It's what I do. Oh, and I did have a sweet pass to Switzer in the first half. I know it was sweet because the KMA midfielder I passed around started bitching to his backs, "Oh, come on! Pick up the runner!"

Match notes...Attendance was estimated at around a dozen, mostly supporters from KMA's side...due to local media restrictions, no photos or video were available from the match...if you have a family member who likes to take pictures or video, encourage them to come out; you know I will repeatedly refer to them as "awesome" for their efforts...

Next Match:

FC77 Rangers v. Salem Kickers

Sunday, 27 September, 2009

2:00 PM Kick-Off

Geer Park, Salem, Oregon

"I feel a strange disturbance in the Force, like many voices cried out and then were silenced..."