Game got off to a late start due to the MASL site not informing the refs and Burnsville which of the 57 Fields we were playing on. Little patience and everyone made it there ok, and the game kicked off 10-15 minutes late.
With the stage set, and history showing that Blaine has never pulled 3 points away from Burnsville, we knew this was going to be a fun game. These teams have tied several time in the years past, but Burnsville has always found a way to get the 3 Points when it was deserved in years past.
Blaine started off well and was able to get 2 goals early in the first half. One off a hand ball penalty by the keeper who was dancing on the top of the 18 trying to push the ball away. The AR waved his flag, and we all knew, that in the opinion of the referee, that the hand and ball made contact outside the penalty area. With a good shot, this ball was placed kindly in the back of the net. The second goal came shortly after when Blaine attacker drove to the goal deep in the zone, and playing the simple ball on the ground past the keeper. 2-0 with Blaine doing a good job controlling play.
Burnsville gained a couple guys in this period and gave themselves a couple subs. At this point, the game balanced out well, and started to become a mental game. There seemed to be a fair amount of talking on the field between the teams, but all seemed in good spirits of the game. Blaine missed several golden oppurtunities in the first half to put this game away early. Dinged one off he cross bar, and sent a couple sailing over to top of the goal, when a simple shot could have put it in the back of the net. Burnsville did a good job keeping the ball in the Blaines end of the field, and Blaine could not clear the zone.
Half time came and went, Blaine feeling comfortable, however knew the next goal was going to be the important goal of the game. Burnsville came out of the gate in the 2nd half hungrey for a goal. Holding posession in Blaines end of the field for a while, Blaine got things squared away and the game became balanced again. With Burnsville putting the preasure on, they ball was played into the middle of the filed about 6 yard out from the goal, and found the foot of a happy Burnsville player, beating the goalie. That was the goal Blaine did not want to concede. The half continued and Blaine made a few changes to the formation of play again, a few short minutes affter this change in formation things started to open up top, and Blaine missed 2 breakaways just wide of the net. Shortly there after, there was a scrumage in front of the net, and guy that missed 2 breakaways decides to show the team he wasnt going to go 0-3 on shots in the 2nd half. He rips a ball along the ground past the keeper. Burnsville starts yelling for off-sides, as Blaine had a guy on his knee in an off-side position. The referee's discussed the play before rewarding the goal, and they both agreed that sitting on a knee wide of the goal, not blocking the view for the keeper, deems this player as not involved in play, and rewards the goal. Blaine goes up 3-1.
The finial whistle blows, and Blaine is rewarded the 3 points for the victory. Well played match by both teams, and sportsmanship after the game proves that although there was alot of talk between the two teams during the match, respect is had for the game by everyone. This will be a fun rematch in Burnsville!