Ice & Fire Cup Round Two

Hailstorm melt late against Fuego.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Late heartbreak strikes Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC as they fall to Central Valley Fuego FC at home. A month after the first trip to Colorado, Fuego returned to steal three points back from their defeat last time in the state.
Just five minutes into the match though, the Hailstorm received another lightning delay after having had a delay of an hour in Tucson last Saturday. After a half hour the play resumed and both teams could reset themselves.
Northern Colorado dominated possession in the first 45 minutes, holding the ball for nearly 73 percent of the time. Both sides were able to create set piece chances but nothing came to yield a solid chance of scoring. Just before halftime Irvin Parra got a ball whipped in by Arthur Rogers but the shot was put over the crossbar for a goal kick to Central Valley.
As the game encroached on the hour mark Fuego had the first chance of the half, ringing one off the crossbar on a counter-attack. Northern Colorado then found their way through the opposition but keeper, Ofek Antman, stood tall to deny Jerry Desdunes of what was the first Hailstorm shot on target.
The Hailstorm would come close to finding their first as time went on but were just unable to put their chances on target. In stoppage time substitute Christian Chaney was able to control a long ball for Fuego leaving only keeper Thomas Olsen between him and goal. After dribbling around Olsen he passed the ball into the net to find the late winner for Central Valley and all three points from the evening.
Hailstorm pushed forward to find the even later equalizer, but before Parra could make a throw in near the Central Valley corner flag, the whistle was blown and the match was over.
Northern Colorado are back in Canvas Stadium for the last time this month on Sunday. Where they will take on the Charlotte Independence at 4:00 p.m. MDT.
The 118-acre Future Legends Complex will feature two stadiums, multiple baseball diamonds and multi-purpose fields, an indoor sports arena, lodging, and retail; and will host guests for major sports tournaments, events, leagues, and more.