3United faced the top-of-the-table Shooters in the 2nd round of the Hebiguchi cup. With only 12 players, no keeper and a few new faces on the team, 3United knew the odds were stacked against them, but they stood up to the challenge and gave the Shooters a run for their money.

The first half was spent mostly in the 3United defense half as the Shooters were eager to get a few quick goals to seal the deal. 3U was pretty solid defensively but having no trained keepers in goal, the Shooters were able to bag two goals before the first half ended.

The Shooters were ready to extend their lead and destroy 3U’s spirit and motivations. Unfortunately, a lost ball near the midfield led to a Shooter corner that they converted to go up by three threatening to do just that. However, 3United wasn’t going to have any of that, they started to coordinate more dangerous counter-attacks and created chances.  Oraz Arslanow pounced on a ball from Nick Law in the box and muscled past the last defender and carried the ball into goal to put 3United on the board. With about 15 minutes left in the game, Arslanow received a throughball from the defense in the Shooters midfield and sprinted toward the box. He won his 1v1 with the Shooters keeper and was able tap the ball into goal to give 3U their and his second goal of the game as well as the momentum in the game. The Shooters had some more shots by were thwarted by the 3U defenders, interim keeper and the goal posts. 3United was desperate to get a third goal to even up the score but the final whistle blew giving Shooters the win. Final score: 3United 2, Shooters 3.

Man of the match honors: Oraz Arslanow