There are no more scenarios and no more hopeful words for the lads of the 2012 FC Buffalo Blitzers after a strong first half lead to a typical second half and the boys ended their season in fitting fashion: with missed scoring chances, undisciplined fouls and arguments with officials.
Ultimately, FC Buffalo can only blame itself for Friday’s 3-0 loss at AFC Cleveland. The Blitzers needed all three points and instead allowed three goals, moving from a daunting 1-0 deficit to a red card to another lopsided scoresheet in Ohio.
Buffalo looked brilliant from the get-go, handcuffing Cleveland’s dynamic duo of Vinny Bell and Tommy Schmitt in the first half. The Blitzers strung together passes and carried the run of play in the first half, with brilliant chances skewered by views to perfection. If you don’t shoot, you can’t score.
A rebound was buried in the 50th minute when a AFCC shot hit the post only to bound to an unmarked charging Royal. One-nil was the score, but Buffalo almost answered immediately. Andy Tiedt, moments after being given a yellow card for a bad foul, was wrestled to the ground inside the box to no whistle from the official. Moments later, Ryan Walter picked up a red card for an untoward comment to the head referee and Buffalo found themselves down a man for the rest of the match. Cleveland scored two more and that was the season.
The team released a brief statement after the match:
“There is nothing satisfactory about the 2012 regular season. We’re proud of our players for competing to the bitter end, but nothing changes finishing last in the division. We will be assessing our entire operation and making the proper remedies to put us back in the playoff picture in 2013. Thank you to our supporters, The Situation Room and the families and friends who hoped for so much better. We remain for our city.”
Email: wolf@fcbuffalo.org
Back in the playoff picture? Since when? By now, is it glaringly obvious that the “entire organization” aka the “Kenmore Krew” needs to take this “operation” beyond their own personal hobby. Crowds are stagnant. Schedule is horrid for families and youth players, and does anyone see that Division III players are Division III players AND coaches for a reason? Great guys…last place. League is garbage, too. It was fun to think that Buffalo has a “soccer team”, but the fact is that these guys wouldn’t be the best BDSL team.
I remember when the Erie Admirals were a team. RIP