3United went head to head with Kangbei on Saturday morning after a week break due to quite a few players being away in Thailand for a 7s tournament.

Kangbei started with more tenacity pressing the 3U side hard down the wings in the first 10 minutes. However, 3United was able to alleviate the pressure and stabilize themselves for their own offensive. A quick break from the back put Alex Bertelsen ahead of the defense, dragging a few Kangbei defenders out of position. After getting past the last defender, he squared the ball away to Nick Law near the penalty spot who put a grounder past the keeper. 1-0, 3United. 10 minutes later, Bertelsen again muscled past the defense putting another ball across the box to Nick Law, who took a touch past the rushing keeper and lobbed the incoming defender for his 2nd goal of the game. Kangbei was yet to let up their attack and was awarded a free kick outside the 3U penalty box with 10 minutes left to play in the half. The shot deflected off a 3U defender and found its way to a Kangbei attacker who blasted an unsavable shot into the top right corner to put them on the scoreboard. The first half ended 2-1.

Facing into the afternoon sun, 3United started with the ball and finally put some team movement into their play. They were rewarded when Luismi Ramos clipped a ball over the defense to the right post were Law ran onto the pass, volleying it into the back of the net to give 3U a 3-1 lead and completing his first hat-trick of the season. Again, Kangbei were not discouraged and launched a few attacks of their own, one of which left a hanging ball in the box. It took a squirming bounce past the defender and keeper’s outstretched hands onto the forward who was able to pass it cleanly into goal to make the scoreline 3-2. The last half hour was a mix of attacks from both sides with Kangbei trying to even the game up and 3U trying to add a goal to their safety net. But alas, it was 3United who had the final word. Steve Rowland, 3U keeper, launched a ball up front, where Oraz Arslanow made a great challenge to win the ball off the Kangbei defense. This freed up Nick Law, who received Arslanow’s pass going down the left side of the box and preceded to lob the keeper with a 25-yard shot off the outside of his right foot, nestling itself into the netting next to the right post for 3U’s fourth goal. Kangbei made an effort to get another point on the scoreboard but was unable to do so before the final whistle blew.

Final score, 4-2 to 3United with Nick Law receiving man of the match honors for his impressive 4 goal game.