Pagewood Botany FC 8 Vs Redfern Raiders 1 "AKA Dungeons and Dragons"
With a generous crowd, more than we used too, everything looks more exciting, but if this is also a sudden death game, your brunch couldn't be better. Lucky for us, the girls brought wine, and Wlad was there to keep the order with the drinks, alongside with the legendary Stu. The Idol. The only fan that we have. He show up with the Pagewood polo doesn't matter how, and with him the "In live" match. Buy some popcorns because the game is about to start.
Legendary talk today, and a top level of motivation foretop the initial whistle. Linesman and good referees, much necessary today against a team that master the roundkick and the double elbow tiger punch.
With the Following Lineup, Sam line of 4 with Jack, George, Ian, Darren, 4 Midfielders with Marco and Pete in the wings and Cam and Ross in the middle. Jason and Carlos pushing ahead, the team had the same idea than the last games. Patience, move the ball with sense, by keeping the possession and making that possession, EFFECTIVE.
Demolishing start. First 15min 2-0. What?
Redfern has a 2 or 3 good players. Players than can move the team or at least do something with the ball that can generate problems to the Red's. The thing is that they don't get enough "pasta" as they're mates play only in one mode. Kick and run. It didn't took long to score a goal. They conceded a free kick, Ross spot Jason, and with a great parabolae, found Jason in the middle of the box, who with the back of his head, he scored the 1-0. Min 5 and the panorama was looking good.
Before we could even settle down, calm down the emotions, a quick triangulation in the midfield ended up with a ball to Pete in the left flank, just a few meters across the midfield line. He sees Carlos, moving in between lines, and with a beautiful pass, leave Carlos completely alone and in the run. The colombian didn't loose the chill, and flicked the ball over the keeper, 8 goal in his first season, great definition for the 2-0. Can you imagine a better way to start a semi final sudden death?
Edward Leg-scissors.
The rest of the first half was a monopoly of the ball for Pagewood, for except a few minutes. The red's with a very solid midfield this time, kept the pressure high and the lines together when defending. Cam, Ross, Pete and Marco where a compact barrier that helped the defensive line. Also, the MD was totally committed with his positioning, specially Cam, with a more restricted role, like against the eagles in the league game, and Ross dropping passes here and there, Redfern didn't had any other option than decide to kick some ankles and knees. Delightful job if your legs are not there. Unfortunately for the reds they're legs where on the way. The game, although that secure was being played on a unstable dungeon, where Redfern players where getting more and more intense. It has to be hard be overplayed with a 2-0 ZAS kind of thing in the first 45 minutes. It was a semifinal after all.
The awaken Red Dragon. 2-1.
The second 45 min where simply the best of this season, 6 goals, as easy as it looks.
Redfern punched first but, as they turn down a few revolutions down, and tried for once to play football. But the reality was that Pagewood never lost the control and the timing of the game. Ross, Surrounded by Cam, Kenny and Marco won in touch and control, over a unorganised line from our opponent. They scored more for our mistakes than for they're chances. The goal was a standard "you take it, no you do it..." in between 3 defenders, obviously his striker, that is not a bad player, took the present and score the 2-1. That injection of morale for Redfern almost get rewarded, when 2 min after the goal they could score from a corner, but they didn't score, and that could had change the development of the game, or....maybe not.
The reality is that the team didn't care much about what happened. By the way, Ross was in the bench bleeding after another NRL blocking over him.
20 goals, goles, golazos. The Crane
Because Pagewood didn't change his idea, the players kept targeting offensive actions. The lines where now working at full power. Let's see what am I talking about. Darren was playing without opposition in the LB as he was totally taking over his opponent wing. Having that superiority, he can play wisely with the ball in control. He can feed Ross or Cam, always in between lines. Those two, can distribute back waiting for the team to open and stretch the field, or instead push forward and play quick with the wings. Transitions. Fast or Slow. And through transitions Evan got a situation in the right wing, just in between the midfield line and the box, space enough for break the lines if his cross was good enough. Oh it was. Don't panic, as Evan has a glove in his foot and leaves a goal to Jason, who is out of control, supermotivated and leader of this team.
Karma
The 4-1 came from another quick transition in between lines, Kenny in the left opens to Marco, with spaces, he turns around, and starts a conduction, winning meters, opens to Jason, with a beautiful pass with his right, and leaves Jason in the right side of the field in the one on one with the keeper, but he crosses to Marco?... no! The first men there was Kenny, that did a massive run coming from the defensive line, he is going to score but, the defender got first, with a poor touch, embarrassing himself he put the ball inside his net.
The flying Titti 5-1
Pagewood decided to go for the kill and show off a little of his full capacity for the next 20 minutes. All the players where totally switch on and with this, we can go everywhere.
Kenny again, in the midfield this time, drops a loooooong ball to Marco in the left wing, controls, stop close the box, and listens to the sky. And the sky talked back, he brought a flying men, in the opposite side of the box. With a precise cross, Peter had to do the hard part. Jump like a ninja and hit the ball like a pro for score the 5-1 and score a screamer, very similar that the one that scored against Redfern 3 games ago.
6-1 Game, set and match
Ross scored the 6-1 after a penalty, before that, a player for redfern was send off, nothing strange here. The enemy was totally defeated, without a light to follow. If you think that Pagewood was about to be sorry for them and just lay back, you are mistaken.
7th Symphony Of Rosshoven.
Art, is the best way to describe the 7-1. The goal itself was from another galaxy, but the team play behind was delightful too.
A random ball that was going to goal kick, was chased by Carlos, yes, with 6-1 and 7min to go and he chase a random ball. Brutal. Anyway, he of course, get that ball, and with a cold and calculated look around the area, finds Ross, the elemental. He's outside the box, on his toes, expecting that ball. Carlos with a single, sharp, and precise pass, allows Ross to aim the galaxy, coming from behind, outside the box he connects a unstoppable ball. Without any option for the keeper the ball hits the net with power, wild, TNT.
Carnaval. 8-1
The last 5min where even more coloured and full of joy and happiness. Drunks of football, George wanted to score his first goal this season, so he swap himself with Jason. For a moment the Nittes here attacking together, pulling girls like Barney and Ted. Unfortunately the girls where outside the field, so they had to pull goals.
In another attack from the reds, Pete when on the one on one against the keeper, who trying to do a judo movement, messed up the situation, allowing Pete now to assist to...the beast. George. He push the ball inside the net without opposition, a easy trick for the Nittes brothers. Humiliating 8-1.
Not much to add from a game that will be remembered, biggest victory for the past 2 seasons. We going to the finals, pumped, with hunger of a trophy, that we could reach it a season ago, but....we are back!
1-0 Jason (Ross) 2-0 Carlos (Peter) 2-1 Redfern 3-1 Jason (Evan) 4-1 OG (Jason)
5-1 Peter (Marco) 6-1 Ross (p) 7-1 Ross (Carlos) 8-1 George (Peter)
Yellow cards. Jason (Pagewood), 5 bookings for Redfern with a double booking for a MD
MVP of the game
Ross 3
Jason 2
Pete 1
MVP Vs Redfern (League)
Wlad 3
Foff 2
Ian 1
MVP Vs Olympic (Play-off)
Jason 3
Ian and Marco 2
Both draw in points
RED: Dirty kicks and unnecessary tackles
Redfern strategy and dirty tactics where useless in front of a team working at 120%, but some of the challenges, where totally unnecessary for a semifinal. First yellow card in the first 10 min, they where going and aiming to damage. That's a fact, but it is a fact to that we are over this. Against a display of dirty and random football, the winning team displayed a well organised system, that lead them to make Redfern look like students.
ORANGE: Last pass to Sam.
Sometimes, too many perhaps, the players doesn't use the keeper when having or experimenting some "troubles" or pressure. A well delivered player to Sam, who is a keeper that can play with his feet, gives us time to recover positions and relocate players. Also he can play long balls with precision. We should balance more those moments where we only can do 2 things when we are under the pressure, 1- kick the ball out and loose possession and position or 2- pass to Sam and start from 0.
GREEN: Are you kidding me?
Seriously? Just pick any single minute of the game and you have a reason to be with the green colour. Not many mistakes, just one, and it was goal. But well, we scored 8 today right? Now, we need to keep this intensity up, if we look back, we only lost 1 game in the past 8-9 games. The rest, 2 draws and the rest....victory's. As a league leaders, we need to take the cup back to Pagewoodlandia.
Sam 9: Scoundrel. He got the hard task to pick so many balls from behind the goals, because Redfern strikes where a bluff, one they get more dangerous in the second half, he was there, specially in the corners. Firm hands, but they let him down in the goal, a lonely chance.
Jack 9: Skirmisher. Solid game for this lad, in the first half with a more conservative role, had to deal with the best player of Redfern. Nailed. Not a single chance from the striker. In the second half became much more dangerous, as he increased is looting tasks among the right flank. Starred in one of the plays of the game, after a incredible run almost from box to box, he got the mojo, and let at least 5 players behind, all of them looking around without know what to do.
George 9: Smackdown. World record in tackles and attacks stopped, the CB also decided to try some new WWE tricks. The Redfern strikers are probably in therapy or in UCI, so all in all another day at work for him...but today was different, he also had the pleasure of scoring a goal, and assisted by his brother. Like a romantic movie, this ends up in a grand finale. George is ready.
Ian 9: Winter soldier. The soldier that never stops, did a game that is already recorded in DVD. Our Soldier doesn't need's shields, he scares the opponent with his presence. Always a tough guy, he also knows how to be a gentleman when moving the ball and starting the team passing process. His serenity makes everyone feel good, and from there, the team plays better. Is the boss
Darren 9: Tiger shark. He still chewing parts of redfern players. After that he will take a look around, moving in between lines, and being involved in so many team plays. Once he's happy, he will come back to his waters in line with George and Ian. Fantastic moving the ball around, being one more in the ball circulation. His second half in defence can be found in youtube. National geographic: The Darren Shark.
Cam 9: Lego. Cam found pieces of lego everywhere today and he did a lot of fun things with it. First he set up a first line of defence behind Ross, being the first men to go to stop a contrattack. He also did and create so many tunnels and bridges to link lines that where only able to his vision. Always creating highways of passes to the wings, he makes the offensive tasks easier.
Ross 10: Apocalethic. A mix in between apocalyptical and poetic describes best Ross football. Doing "roulettes", and breaking some hips with his moves, he controlled the midfield like shakespeare control his lines, but also bring some chaos over Redfern when having spaces. 1-0 come from a tasty cross from a free kick, not the only that he delivered today. Scored a penalty for the 6-1. For the 7-1 he left a insulting, delightful, and pornographic strike from outside the box. In shape and ready for be important in the final.
Pete 10: Pete Wonder. On his better moment of the season, he take a hint at Redfern to deliver a breaking pass to Carlos, for the 2-0. Because he believes that Pagewood can be champion, he plays with confidence and determination, the run in the 5-1 calling for the ball was fantastic and well timed, from there he performed his Pete Norris flying kick and scored again against Redfern. Always looking for the family he showed his generosity serving a goal to his brother Beast. After the game he will sign some autograph over some girls tittis. Rockstar
Kenny 9: Podracer. Like the star wars racing engine, Kenny races in the flanks with speed and elegancy. Very fancy when deciding what to wear when playing football, for him it matter if use a dribbling or a classy pass. Able to be in position when defending, his agility make him able to cover a big area. After the race, he will run a few miles more in Tattoine. From his boots started the 4 and 5 goal, and also did some damage. His combinative skills are taught in the schools of algebra.
Marco 9: Ninja turtle. He played the 4 roles, ST, RB, LW, MD. All of them with the same determination to do a good job. He practiced some martial arts with the Redfern Foot Clan players. Because Master Splinter taught him well, he is able to get away with his quick foot work. Using his nunchakus he fought every ball that was on his way and helped to move the ball with sense and good criteria. The pass in the 5-1 looks like a secure and best valuable argument to show to the Immigration minister to let him stay here. Peripheral vision for the spaniard, that can spot a player or a single lady doesn't matter where they are.
Jason 10: Sexual. He got cheeky very soon, after score is 19 goal of the season after only 5 minutes. From there he start to play the before game with class. I touch you here and I push you there, but always fighting for the team. In the second half, he put some time after the 2-1, by scoring the 3-1 and performing the Sexy Jason Dance, in front of the Crew, girls, guys, fans in general will have some dreams about the striker...doing this again with his goals in the final.............
Carlos 9: U.S. Sherman Like the american tank, he bomb the defence very early. After a brilliant pass from Peter, the lion position his body ready to impact. FIRE. And the 2-0 was up. Excellent performance in attack and in defence, but also communicating with his fellas and participating more actively, his power and intelligence allowed Ross to score his high class goal. Carlos did another High class pass to assist ross. With the perfect touch, the perfect power, the perfect pass.
Foff 9: Silver surfer. A shorter version perhaps, and with a fierce and responsible beard, Foff kicked some ass again in the LB covering Pete or Marco with security and effectivity. The superhero freezes every enemy chance, without taking prisoners. Very composed with the ball, he offers guarantees of results.
Evan 9: Torero In his pass for spain, Evan learned some movements or "pasos" of the most important toreros of the country, then he comes here and surrounded by aussies he does those pasos. He can move the world inside a square and when he spots someone, he can deliver a perfect ball like the one that end up with the important 3-1. Coming back from holidays he already got 2 assists. Bingo bango Evan
