Bermuda Blanks NH Phantoms ,1-0
August 4, 2007 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
New Hampshire Phantoms News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - (August 4, 2007) - The Bermuda Hogges entered its game versus New Hampshire Phantoms in last place in United Soccer Leagues Second Division, but to those in attendance, Bermuda looked anything but a team at the bottom of the standings. Bermuda played like a team possessed - out-hustling, out-playing, and in the end out-scoring the home team, 1-0.
The Hogges played with tremendous energy up and down the field racking up seven corner kicks to NH's one. It was one of those CK's that decided the game at the 64-minute mark. Bermuda's Damon Jason Ming, an exciting flashy forward, served a deadly kick to the four-yard line into a frenzy of players in front of the goal. The ball dropped to the pitch and Ming's teammate, Omar Shakir, poked home the game-winner.
In one of the season's most entertaining matches in front of 1,075 fans, Bermuda played with joyous passion, celebrating its goal on the far side of the field in front of its many supporters that had made the trip to cheer on their team. Playing in its unique red and green-colored uniforms, the Hogges seemed to have the Phantoms confused from the start shifting frequently from a 4-5-1 system of play with a lone striker to pushing three players and often times four forward in its attacking opportunities.
NH's Michael Murphy (American International College), in his first start of the year, made several spectacular first half stops to keep his team in the game. Murphy first robbed Ming on a head ball served by midfielder Kwame Steede from the right side. Ming jumped and hammered a ball down at the goal line, but Murphy plucked it from nowhere. Just three minutes into the second frame, Bermuda threatened again on another CK, and this time Murphy darted across his goal line to tip wide of the goal a ball that was on the line headed for the back of the goal. Murphy was slammed into the back goal netting by a Bermuda player and remained motionless momentarily. The Phantoms pleaded for a card from the referee, but to no avail. Murphy recovered, and play resumed.
One of NH's best bids came at 63 minutes when Tom McNeil swerved a left-footed re-start from just outside the right side of the box to the near post. Bermuda's goalkeeper Tim Figureido snatched the ball just inside the post.
The Phantoms dropped to 3-11-5 while Bermuda, playing the first game of a four game road trip in the United States, moved to 3-11-3. Bermuda trails the Phantoms by one point in USL-2 standings with three games to play including a match at Western Mass Pioneers on Tuesday night before heading south.
NH will play its final match of the season next Saturday night at Manchester Memorial High School at 7:30 PM when its hosts Cincinnati Kings.
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 4, 2007
- Cincinnati Kings Close Out Home Schedule with 2-0 Loss to Harrisburg - Cincinnati Kings
- Bermuda Blanks NH Phantoms ,1-0 - New Hampshire Phantoms
- Islanders shutout Cincinnati with 2-0 win - Penn FC
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