Fall 2008 Division Championship Match

FC77 Rangers 3, Controlled Chaos 6

Scorer:  (Ntini 25', 35', 70')

So close and yet so far...

Under rose and violet hued skies, the curtain finally fell on the GPSD Fall 2008 O-30 Third Division Rose City season.  The dream match-up between top sides FC77 Rangers and Controlled Chaos yielded a nine goal thriller...unfortunately, with the balance of the goals to the opposition.  'Gers fifteen game league unbeaten streak came to an end and provided the only blemish on an otherwise superb season.

Controlled Chaos came out firing on all cylinders and quite simply beat us.  No excuses.  No lame "woulda, shoulda, couldas."  Full credit to the opposition for their efforts, play, and sportsmanship.  The match was officiated by no less than a full complement of four--familiar standby referee Mohammed, two linemen, and even a fourth official.  Malvern Ntini demonstrated why he was the Rose City O-30 Third scoring leader with another hat trick, which included a late second half free kick that was a thing of beauty.  Taken from outside the left side of the box, about twenty yards from goal, the shot whipped and dipped and beat the keeper to the far right corner.  Chaos went up early with a ferocious three goal barrage (all within seven or eight minutes), but 'Gers rallied back with two of our own to only be down 2-3 at the half.  An early strike to start the second half compounded the challenge and a subsequent score line of 3-5 still proved to be too much to pull back.

The squad was heartened by the return of Bullie Sibanda, who, although unable to play due to his broken wrist and subsequent surgery, braved the evening cold to cheer us on.  We had a good supporter's corp of approximately two dozen and their enthusiastic voice was appreciated.  

Starting XI:  

Calkins (goalkeeper)

Seaton, Bauman, Snyder, Pullen (fullbacks)

Foubister, Muralt, Radigan, Burden (midfielders)

Ntini, McConnachie (forwards)

Reserves:

Ingersoll, Vogel, Fahrbach, King

Rangers would like to extend a special thank you to all of our families, kids, Junior Rangers, and friends of the club who cheered us on this season.  We know with busy family schedules, inclement weather, work, and travel that it is not easy to put aside four hours a week for football.  Thank you.  This squad is awesome for many reasons, none the least of which is the supporters.  

2009 will be an interesting year for 'Gers.  We will undoubtedly be promoted, and should we get bumped to the O-30 Third Portland division, we'll have the opportunity to rekindle some familiar rivalries with clubs like Tekvision, Code Blue, Rose and Thistle and other teams that used to beat the living s**t out of us.  Methinks we might have some surprises for them.  I watched their division championship yesterday and those guys are looking a little long in tooth.  Plus, our wives are way hotter.  Hubba hubba!

If we get bumped to the O-30 Second, well...whatever.  We'll take our lumps like men.

We have one more team function for this season.  We must party.  It won't be the victory celebration we had hoped for, but we earned a chance to celebrate the successes of 2008: One championship.  Two top two finishes.  The defeat of the Azzurri.  Thrice!  An awesome website.  One referee suspended in disgrace.  A fifteen league (and seventeen all competitions) undefeated streak.  The top division scorer.  The most goals and point totals in 'Gers history.  Junior Ranger shirts.  A special guest appearance by Marlina the Ranger Cheerleader jumping out of a soccer-ball shaped cake*. The fact that I skipped my office Christmas party to have rubber field pieces embedded in my right knee.  Live match feeds courtesy of Twitter. An international fan base.  Those are good reasons to gather together, eat a little, drink a little/lot, and bid fond farewell to 2008.

* Yeah, right.

Rangers 2008 Post-Season Party

Saturday, 13 December 

3:00 p.m. - whenever  

18096 NW Cambray Street

Beaverton, Oregon  97006

Please RSVP to Sean (you know how) and bring a holiday-themed dish to share