Lancaster Rattlers Premier Development League
May 24th, 2009 Fresno, California- Rattlers strike early and offend in the first half of what turned out to be a scoring fest with 24 fouls,4 cautions, a pulled back red card, a goal called off and a total of 37 shots in a 5-5 tie. Crazy and played in 90 plus temperatures in Fresno Sunday afternoon. The Rattlers jumped out quickly with only 4 regular starters in the line up because of injuries. In the 17th minute Christian Hernandez started the action with a goal off a restart 21 yards out. Then just three minutes later Miguel Ibarra took the ball down the left side of the keeper and took a long shot across to only miss by inches hinting the cross bar, but the ball found the head of the awaiting Mauricio Harrie who leaped up and headed it in for the second goal in just 20 min. Then just 10 min. Later it was Miguel Ibarra again with the ball took it in tho the Fuego zone and made a pass straight to the awaiting C. Hernandez who quickly added a third goal and his second of the day. As the second half was concluding a foul on the Rattlers in the 44th min. About 24 yards and recently signed Moises Alvarez took the re-start and recorded his first goal as he quickly passed the unaware Fuego keeper Diaz giving the Rattlers a 4-0 lead in the first 45 min. of play. The second half began and it was easy to see the heat and lack of subs. shown on the Rattlers. The Fuego seen this and just after the second half began the Fuego made four substations this gave them selfs fresh legs and it paid off. In the 52min. The Fuego recorded there first goal by Paul Islas as he broke though the fatigue midfield of the Rattlers and push it by Brunner the Rattlers keeper. Then in the 77th minute Fresno received a corner kick and placed it to the center of the goal mouth and Fresno's Adrian Alvarado headed the loose ball and put the Fuego with in two. Three minutes later Fresno's Cyprian Hendrick who came in 10 minutes earlier caught a pass and now it was down to one goal lead. Then the Fresno didn't waste the momentum as one minute later Paul Islas came back for his second in the half to knot the game up at 4 each. The four unanswered goals put all the pressure on the already wore out Rattlers and with fresh legs in the game the Fresno keep pushing on a weak defense and in the 86th min. Of the contest The rather fatigued Rattlers never stop fighting however, even after taken the lead once more with a restart goal by Christian Hernandez only to have the goal called off on what was said to of been a indirect kick and a no other player touch the ball, even after a heated objection by the Rattlers claiming the keeper did get his figures on the ball. The Rattlers reached down deep and gave another push to regain the lead. And they did exactly that in the 87th min. A foul on the Rattlers in the box awarding the Rattlers with a PK , with Mauricio Harrie took the kick it gave Harrie his second of the day and put the Rattlers up on top again by 1. That lead was short lived however as the Fuego came back in the 89th min. and secured a point for each by scoring the 5th and Finial goal. Example of needed improvement from the officials.: The calls from the officials where questionable at best. In the 80 th minute the Rattlers put in there only field sub left Billy Zaharopoulos and with the first 4 minutes on the field Zaharopoulos received a yellow caution card and then a red claiming it was his second yellow in the contest. The Referee stood firm that Zaharopoulos had a caution earlier in the game. It wasn't until finally both AR's corrected him and Zaharopoulos was allowed to re-enter the game. Was the indirect kick that was called off in fact touched by the keeper? Again the Referee insist that it was not. But would not ask his AR's opinion? but broke down under the pressure of the Fuego. May be we need too appraisal officials at each game? This is a observation from the writer and not a opinion of the organization. Stats: Fusion: 18 shots, 8 saves, 12 fouls, 8corners Rattlers 19 shots, 12 saves, 12 fouls and 10 corners. Rattlers will face Los Angeles Legends at home AV High School 6pm June 5th. |
| Rattlers Score Season High but come out with a tie 5-5 |
| Christian Hernandez scores 2 and assists in Sundays game game |