The red´s suffered at some stages of the game, let´s start with that. Because it´s true. After 30sec of the second half, the ref saw a penalty against them. And I say "Saw" because nobody else did. That was a "Cock-block" in all the terms, even when Sam did had a touch on the ball but the 1-1 was up. During the next 5 min, the team was a bit shocked, but they believed in the victory, and fight until Jason scored the definitely 1-2. To be fair, this game should have end with something like 1-4... the players had so many chances today, but they are to rushy in front of goal. Ehem, with exceptions
But the other fact is that during the others 85min, Pagewood had at least, more ambition.
Discovering East.
If you have a look at the league table, you don´t really know what to expect in a opponent.
I can understand now, a little bit better what looks that is been happening with East. Those guys, are been playing probably with only eleven since the beginning, and the new players, are just this. New. They don´t act as a team, although that they play strong, at the end, what do they have to loose? Nothing. And this is a big ally.
Push, pull, that picking up sequence
After those first 10min of transition, Pagewod start to look more composed, looking better in the midfield. 4-4-2 with Ross and Darren out this week. Kenny in the midfield, electric as usual, started to find more support, coming from Jason. The team was approaching to the enemy goal.
East strategy was simple, resist in defence and play blackjack throwing the ball ahead expecting mercy from Cam and George. And this amigo, is as silly as ask card when you have 20.
The combinations between Jason, Carlos, and Marco where more and more dangerous, as they tested the keeper a few times, in one of them a East defender blocked a shoot inside the area, nothing unusual apart that little detail, he blocked with both hands, in the air. Crossing them. The ref whistle penalt......ref? reeeef?? REEEE%&·##@
And there the show started. It was a stupidity. It was a moment, at least for 10min, that he did whistle always taking the bad decision, the one that is not good for us. Aiiiiii, Marco! Marcooooo.... He never learn. So easy to turn on sometimes, he got a yellow card for open the mouth too much. George tell him to shut up, and the scared spaniard tried to keep the composure for the rest of the first half.
A roar in the field like a thunder in the storm, the Colombian striker hit the net, after a stunning strike from the right flank of the box. He crossed the ball in the long post, away from the keeper, after a less important pass from Jason, the set up came from a well played pass from Mikee over the defence looking for the spanish, after the pass was blocked, the crane pick the ball and place a multidimensional pass to Carlos, the rest, is story. 0-1
Over the first half, Carlos was all over the place. He´s in shape. is super motivated, and this encourage the rest. When Marco wasn't crying over the ref, he did find so many spaces today, and he set up so many chances, 2 of them for Pete. Special mention at the first one, after a beautiful triangulation between the treble Jason, Carlos, Marco, in 3 passes they found themselves inside the box, but the defenders where too many, Pete was asking in the other corner totally alone, and Marco draw a pass for the wing, this last, stopped the ball, look, and cross a ball aiming for the left corner. The keeper saved in the last moment. Sad that this didn't end up as a ball, because the team play was fantastic.
The Benny-ref show.
With a feeling of security and the desire to score more goals, the team started the second half, with a attack from East, George goes in to the tackle, but the striker shoots, and same refuses the ball to corner, ok, now here, add a penalty. I know that is hard to avoid the express USS George when is coming to you, but the striker managed to do it and shoot. Then he fall. PIIIIIIIIIIIP Penalty. Sam got the position right and was so close to stop the ball but it was a fact. 1-1. Not looking good. Against the last team of the league. Us. Why Us?
This thought put the team in stand by mode for a few minutes, trying to understand the purpose of life, until someone slap them and say "I had enough of this shit". Everybody took responsibility's of they´re acts and sins, and the team step up. Knowing the importance of today´s game, that can be a 3+3 the next week, every player started to play with more energy.
Foff took the left flank in defence with masterfully today. He stopped every attack and win all the 50/50 without opposition. Having this control in defence, Jason placed Marco in the midfield. The second half started with everyone ignoring the ref, thinking only in the game. Although that sometimes, East chaos, creates our on chaos, the team had the control in most part of the second half.
With much more spaces in the midfield, the spaniard played a much better second half, providing good balls to the strikers, Kenny and and the duo Jason and Carlos, where his best clients, East keeper was his best player until he got injured, his hand say enough after stop the continuous offensive storm that was Pagewood.
Jason, ask politely to the ref, "how long?" pointing his wrist. 17min. Time to do boooom-shakaaaaaa
Like ending in happy poetry Jason got a ball from nowhere and blast a shot to that beautiful left post, unstoppable for the kepper. 12goals and counting.
With the 1-2 the intensity didn't stop, and the team had another few good chances.
The back treble Ian, Cam and George, with always Sam in the back line, kept the 3 points safe, and Pagewood went to sleep a siesta with 18 points.
Now wait and see how this weekend ends, with games like Dunbar Vs Olympic or Sydney Uni Vs Loco. A by for Maroubra, and they are right now 4 points behind having 3 us still, 3 games in hand.
0-1 Carlos (Jason) 1-1 East Fc (p) 1-2 Jason
Yellow cards: Marco, Mikee
MVP Of the game
Cam 3
Jason 2
Ian 1
Red: The ref.
He lost the control of the game, when it was totally unnecessary, both teams where playing pretty much inside the rules. His decisions break the game for a while. He forgot to blow a penalty for Pagewood, and took one when it wasn't. A total disaster.
On the other bad side, is the 3rd penalty this season. I thing that we got one, in the entire past season. Something to think about.
Orange: Too many missed chances and a bit of Ping-pong game
The team played offensive today, don't doubt about it, but it din't score as many goals as they deserved. Something to thing about too. The team has to increase this goal average for the end of the season. It's necessary and fundamental. We have to be more effective in front of goal. take more time before we shot.
Also, in some stages the ping pong game took control of the match. This was just a quick flashback, because the team composed himself but, we can have those lapsus for long.
Green: Team Attitude. Full of courage
The victory is deserved and this is something that we can be proud of. Even when today we should had improve here and there, and change the score a bit... The feeling after the game was good. We wanted the victory, and more after the 1-1. Nobody disconnected from the game, and the team got what they deserved, also, the physical strength that East had, was contradicted with our strength. A man to man game. And we won.
Sam: 7 Unlucky. He did well everything that have to be done, and refuse the harder chance that East got, but it end up as a penalty that he couldn't safe. Nobody jumped more than him in corners or free kicks, being always sharp under the goal.
George: 8 Django. In his particular far west gun-show of tackles, headers, etc, he add as well long and full of danger passes over East defenders. If it wasn't enough, he had to deal with a little bit, too much pushy striker. He keep the team in order, specially Marco and Mikee in the first half.
Cam: 8 WWII Veteran. He mention a few games ago, that he was the oldest of the team and bla bla bla, he's right now on his best shape, and looking strong and much more in control than ever. Combines that strength with a improved control with the ball, and much more vision for it. He also likes to start the game with passes.
Foff: 8 Al Capone. He was the boss in his flank, either in the right or in the left. Nobody could stop him on the jump, also today he showed some skilled touches, specially a couple of flicks over a defender, taking him then for speed. Much more active in the team passing, he got involved in a lots of run for the left flank.
Mikee: 7 Unlimited. He show up for some rock and roll, and he of course did rock. Up and down, constantly a help, although that in some points he had to stop himself, and reduce a gear. Had some problems in the first half, but corrected in the second. He had some dangerous approximations to the box, and tried a few crosses. He end up without anything in the tank
Ian: 9 The men. He break his balls in the field, assuming a mixed role today. as he found more spaces in the first half for try some dangerous excursions. As usual, he did his "bad-ass" work in the midfield, sharing his kindness with everyone. As a captain he took all the responsibilities, and after a play this game like warrior, he will make love to his girl like a men.
Kenny: 8 Illuminate. Brilliant game for the midfielder, as he understood his role. He set up himself always in the best position, defending and attacking. Could had score a goal after a one on one against the keeper, but this last one saved. His vision is always good for the team, being one of the important men in the construction.
Pete: 8 Offensive: Apart for his habitual sacrifice in defensive tasks, today, he took a much more offensive role. He was always in the best spot when attacking, and had to chances to score today, one of them, could had been a screamer. He plays in both wings, and is always an option. Tactically perfect.
Marco: 8 Two Faces. Like the DC Comics Villain, Harvey Dent, he showed 2 different games today. He started well, but wasted 20 minutes complaining and annoying the east players. After George and Ian gave him a corrective, he showed his best on the second half. His coordination with the team mates in attack was perfect, giving so many good and dangerous passes. He got more calm with the ball, and use it always with sense. His speed and agility allowed to do those long runs beating players.
Carlos: 9 El leon. His energy is unlimited, so is his enthusiasm. He talks with everyone, and ask for the ball. He also has that killing instinct from outside the box. 4th goal for the colombian in a almost perfect game. He could had score 3 more goals, as he was involved in all the attacks. He never gives a ball away, and if he does, he's the first to fight for get it back. Great positioning, as always was in the best place for get a good pass
Jason: 9 Jasonsaurus Rex. Goal and assistance for the Killer of the team. 12, just 8 more goals for the 20, and it looks every time more and more possible. The job that he does for the team is sometimes not understood enough, as he is everywhere, and most part of the time, he always do the right thing with the ball. Also, this year, he's faster. Waka waka waka
Pat: 7 Defensive tower. He did had to play today on a very different role, as he found to many obstacles in the midfield, also the ball wasn't arriving precisely enough to him most part of the time. For this reason, he become a one more man to add with Ian. Instead of do the last pass, today he did the first. Tackle, get the ball back and pass. A job always important and need it for the team construction
Jack: 6 Obstructed. Dirty game for Jack, as he had to deal with some problems in the right flank. He was moved to the fullback again, because of that his sparkling game of last week, become much more defensive. This doesn't change one thing, he knows what to do with the ball, doesn't matter in which position he plays. Better in the second half than the first.
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