After a two week break, the Ballard boys are back and announced their return with another win at Interbay Stadium, defeating Midlakes United 2-0 in front of an Interbay Stadium record crowd.
Friday’s match was a testy affair from the kickoff as both teams created chances early, and physicality was the key theme throughout.
It is no surprise that when the breakthrough did finally come that it came from the penalty spot.
Ballard FC debut winger Emmett Layman made a marauding run through the Midlakes defense and unleashed a rocket of a shot that cannoned off the crossbar and looked to have crossed the goal line before bouncing back into play. After no whistle from the referee, Alex Notzka jumped to head in the rebound but was shoved in the back by a Midlakes defender.
The referee blew his whistle and pointed the sport, awarding the penalty kick. From the ensuing spot kick Anton Hjalmarsson scored his first goal for the club, rifling his shot into the bottom left corner in the 25th minute.
After Hjalmarsson’s opener, Ballard FC began to take control of the match even as it got feistier.
Midlakes defender Reise Corpuz received the first yellow card of the match in the 41st minute, quickly followed by Hjalmarsson getting a caution of his own just before halftime.
The two sides went into the break with the score still 1-0.
Notzka was inches from an early brace in the 10th when a deflected shot sailed just over the crossbar.
The second half began with the hosts eager to extend their lead. It would not take long.
Just seven minutes into the half, Ballard FC doubled their advantage.
Connor Tollan’s free kick was blocked and popped into the air where Notzka won the aerial battle and headed the ball across goal where it was bundled home by Omar Grey, who wheeled off in celebration where he did a backflip in front on the Beer Garden.
Quickly after the second goal, the match got very physical again. Dan McKay, Arjun Venkat, Riley Cotton, and the Midlakes United bench all received second half yellow cards while Ballard FC striker Elliot Spatz also was given a caution late in the match.
The final fourty minutes of the match were highlighted mostly by Ballard FC chances as they pushed for a third goal that never came.
In the end, the hosts would settle for a 2-0 final as they moved to 2-0 on the season.
Notzka collected player of the match honors, after assisting the second goal and winning the penalty for the opener.
After the Whistle with Head Coach Mutanda Kwesele
Starting Lineup: Stockton Short, Isaac Ketcham, Andrew Myerson, Cianole Nguepissi, Omar Grey, Sean Sent, Connor Tollan, Jack-Ryan Jeremiah, Emmett Layman, Alex Notzka, Anton Hjalmarsson
Subs used: Elliot Spatz, Juan Alvarez, Beto Apolinar, Jordy Dierks
Scoring Recap:
- 25’: Scored by Anton Hjalmarsson (1), unassisted
- 52’: Scored by Omar Grey (1), assisted by Alex Notzka (1)
Written by Max Dresbach
