2021 ISL Match Report
Date:  10/2/2021
Home Team:             Middlesex
Away Team:              Milton Academy
Score (H-A):             1-2
Goals (Assists)-        Home:             #10 Yared McDonald (45'+, Assist #6 George Lin)         
                                    Away:             #16 Boid Nako (25', Assist #10 Zac Sardi-Santos)
                                                            #11 Luke Randolph (80', Assist #6 Finn Hackett)
Goalkeeping-             Home:            Aidan George (90', 2 GA)
                                    Away:            Mateo Buyu (90', 1 GA)
Cardings-                   Home:             NONE
                                    Away:             #4 Nik Kathiresan (Yellow, 72')
Notes:            
Middlesex hosted a deep and talented Milton Academy team on a beautiful fall Saturday.  The hosts chose to maintain a low-pressure line and absorb a good deal of pressure while looking to be dangerous on the counterattack.  The defensive organization and shape were effective until the 25^th minute, when a defender chose to break ranks and chase into the midfield which led to an isolated center back being beaten in a one-on-one situation and a strong finish to the back post.  Play was halted for a significant stretch while an injured Milton player was carried from the field.  Our best thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery go out to that young man.  When the play resumed, with three minutes left in the half, Middlesex won a set piece and senior captain George Lin drove a ball that was flicked home by the head of Yared McDonald '23 for the 1-1 tie headed into the halftime break. 
The second half was more of the same, as Middlesex carved out chances on counterattacks and set pieces, and Milton saw the lion's share of the ball.  Despite the disparity in possession, Milton was only able to manage five shots on net throughout the 90 minutes.  As the game entered the 80^th minute knotted at 1-1, Milton sprung a counterattack of their own.  The ball switched to the right flank for Finn Hackett to cut in on the left back and lay a square ball on the ground for a streaking Luke Randolph to hammer into the upper 90 of the near post from 12 yards out for the eventual match winner at 2-1. 
While the Middlesex boys were disappointed at the result, the effort and attitude in the team throughout the match was fantastic.