Without doubt, this is going to be the best pitch that we are going to play in this season. A little bit more small than the average outdoor fields. Benches, facilities, and of course fake grass. If we play at 9am, at least let's enjoy a game over a perfect pitch.
After Ross great perfomance against Dunbar, he wasn't on the field today, certainly, this is always a big position to cover. Darren was back, this week, one men for another men.
Insert Disc.......Installing program 25%
The start of the game, was the expected. Pagewood had to find himself in the field, and now im just talking about lenghts and orientation on a field that as I mention before, was beautiful, but unfortunately, new for the team. We play battles in places that only Rambo has been before. Today the field was shorter, and when you do a pass, the ball was actually going straight, withouth bumps or magical bouncings.
Funny thing was that today, last week mistakes, where corrected, it took about 20min to settle.
Cam's perfomance today deserve a mention, so it was George's. Both CB had more tempo and played a more active rol, starting the game from behind, with simple and easy passing with both fullbacks and the midfielders.
Oh yeah the midfielders.
So Jason today came up with this, the mexicans where late for the warm up, so they both start in the bench, Kenny wasn't here yet so he played a magic card in the midfield. He placed Darren as a RB and Jack took the MD. Unexpected if you ask me, as Jack perfomances as a RB are being fantastic, he likes to overtake the right side of the field often, you know? Standard Dani Alves, up un down. Ross is our Tic-Tac. Jack is a Rocket.
And it worked.
Because of the sizes today, our team was much more compact, having less distances between the lines. It took those 20 min. UNSW didn't create much either, apart from a couple of long shoots.
After a few changes, Carlos and Marco enter to the game as a ST and RW. In general today the motivation was up, and specially the comunication was working to perfection. This, played a huge advantage for the red's, who start to generate more danger over UNSW.
In one of those, Jack starts the run in the midfield, this, opens to Jason, on the right, smoke's a pass in the hole, and carlos inside the right side of the area, and coming from behind, crosses a beautiful shoot, nice and dry, over the left post for score the 0-1.
It's always important to take the first punch, and Pagewood was looking better and better among the minutes.
The ref whistle announces the half time, and the team goes for the break with the homework almost done.
Install complete 100% Enjoy the game!
It was a relaxed break, just a couple of more tips for the second half, but the things where going well.
Jason did a few changes today, and all of them where perfect. He choose his pieces wisely and he suceed. Apart from Jack in the midfield, let the Marco and Carlos play as a strikers for the first time in this season, and they had fun.
Carlos and Marco are very similar players, with of course a some futbolistic diferences, but they both are the players that CB don't want to face. If they are fit, they can stop pushing. Just being annoying makes the other team make the mistakes, this helps when behind you have players like Kenny, Jack, Pete...
The players where playing this second half with more courage and ambition, result of that was a few corners, and a couple of free kicks in a sexy position. In one of those, Marco looked at Ian, Ian looked back like saying, "dude, I will bring you a present" but Marco didn't believe it much, but was to late, the ball was coming. Ian surprise the defence playing a soft deep pass inside the area, in diagonal, instead of a standard cross or shoot. Marco shoot the air, because he didn't touch the ball just for a couple of cm, but at the same time, he distracted the keeper, who was expecting Marco to touch the ball, the spheric went nice and slowly close to the right post, and with a little "toc" on the post, the 0-2 was up.
The captain get a goal on his best game of the season, able to being everywhere, defending, attacking, basically what a captain does.
Even Jason play in the midfield today, with a good succes too. He took a few steps back, doing that dirty job that the midfield can be.
Jack was part of the third goal of the team, again coming from the second line, he pass 2 players before drive a one two with Marco, coming from the right, then he took another pass to Pete, that was coming from the left, they set up a small triangle, confusing the defence, who trying to find the ball, where living spaces. Pete play a perfect first touch to Marco, who standing over the area line,
- with a subtle touch, it elevates the ball over the goalkeeper. Golazo : ) Excellent definition for an even better team play. This goals simbolised the team attitude. Articulation, and inside game. The CB, and the MD where working together, speaking the same language.
After the 0-3, it didn't took long to score the 0-4. Again, in a combination, but in this case in the right, Jack, Marco and Kenny, this last one end up in the side line breaking the defence and passing to Marco, inside the area, he only needs to turn around, recieve the pass and go forward...but he faceplants. This little slide took everyone for surprise, even the defence, that 2 seconds of delay, allowed the ball to end up in Pat feet, with and amazing shoot from outside the area, he broke the net, scoring for the left top corner. BOOOOM
UNSW replied quickly with another screamer, from outside the box. Sam flied, and actually reach it. But not enough for such a power. 1-4.
But it was to late. Because the Crane has to score, going for the goal 20. This one was pure Jason. Free kick on the side, and Jason get's a header unstoppable for the GK.
With the 1-5 the game was over, and even when they had one or two clear chances, they slow down a bit the intensity.
UNSW scored a last minute goal, but nothing about panic. The game was over and done.
Good victory, for pick up 3 important points, and start the second leg strong. Although that we have 2 games in hand, the league table is very compact at the moment with a few teams in the mix. Olympic eagles (they lost against Maroubra today), Loco, Sydney Uni, Dunbar, and Us. Let's see tomorrow the last update for see what is going on.
0-1 Carlos (Jason) 0-2 Ian 0-3 Marco (Pete) 0-4 Pat (Kenny) 1-4 UNSW 1-5 Jason (Ian) 2-5 UNSW
MVP:
Marco 3
Jack 2
Cam 1
MVP Last Week
Ross 3
Foff 2
Pat 1
MVP Last Week
Ross 3
Foff 2
Pat 1
RED: The ref did break the game a little bit.
Although that we had a linesmen, and a Ref, this one was a bit to rough for such a normal game as today. UNSW is not a dirty team, and the same goes for us. He stopped and drop some sentences over our or they're players that where totally unnecessary. It happen a few times, loosing at least 2-3 min per time.
ORANGE: 5 different scorers.
5 goals, from 5 different players. Is a great new. The second line goals, where lacking a little bit those last games, even the goals of other strikers. Finally, today this happened. Is nice to see Carlos, Ian or Marco scoring, or Pat scoring his first goal for the team. Now this has to happen more often, then it will become the GREEN : )
GREEN: The team play and Jason changes.
Jack covered Ross position very well, and the "mexican" duo did a great job. Brilliant news, because if one thing is sure is that the sky is blue, and Ross is a top player. If he doesn't play we usually miss him. But the effort of everyone did cover that poistion. Most of the goals are coming for a team play.
Sam 8: Composed. He did his job, saving the lonely chances that UNSW had, and showing a good feet work starting the game from behind. Nothing to argue about the goals, he did more than he could but both goals where almost impossible for the GK.
Darren 7: Solid. He keeped his area safe, and always tries to keep the ball on the deck, maybe he could push a little bit more ahead, but responsabilities are responsabilities, and he coped them. Good understanding with his wingmen and with the CB.
Cam 9: Superb. Simply the best as Tina Turner will say, what a game for the CB, he stopped any sign of attack, as usual, but also he was one more MD. He varely played any long or "let's kick" ball, as he always played short and easy. Also his habitual "Cam in rush hour" where just "Cam going for a coffe" this means, he start the run, dragging defenders, but pass the ball in the best moment, then he covers his position. Perfect
George 8: Routinary. He wakes up, he goes to play, he smash some players, then he comes back. For him this is as easy as it looks. He does his job, dancing with the perfection. Not much to add from a player that is fundamental for this team. When he plays "only" 70% we all can notice it.
Mikee 7: I am Mikeeeeee! This season the LB is loving to play forward, and showing himself close to the box, this is a good new, because he has power enough for sprint back when it's necessary. He played with much more tempo than usual today. A beast
Ian 8: Bully. In football terms, he was rude with UNSW MD. He did everything perfect today, finding enough spaces for play nice and good football. He also knew when to play fast in between lines, looking always for balls in the space. Jack is one of the MVP because he worked hard for the team, for this, he got a goal, that also could had be a delightful pass but Marco kick a butterfly.
Jack 9: Supersonic. Was the surprise on the first 11, playing as a MD. He played with attitude, and a lot of trust on himself. He managed the tempos, and used the ball with inteligence. Most of the attacks started somewhere in the midfield with his combinations with other players. This security was also seen when comunicating or cheering for the team. Unstoppable on the dribbling
Pete 8: Productive. He start the game as the team, adapting to the fake grass and testing his marker. After the first 45min, he found himself with more spaces, because of the team changes. Participating much more on the second half. From here, he got involved on a beautiful combination, his assist with a subtile first touch allowed the 0-3
Foff 7: Globe trotters. Doesn't matter where he playes, he always fight until the last breath. He had a chance to score in the second half with a combination with the spaniard, but the defender refuse it in the last second. Also helped in defensive tasks, again, another great game
Jason 9: Sacrified. Jason is like a 4x4 striker kind of midfielder that can defend player...he is everything. He played in very different roles today, roles that require another kind of play. He didn't even blinked. Oh, also he scored another goal and did the assistance in the first goal. The Crane
Pat 8: Arsonist. He set on fire the enemy defence today. He showed a few details of quality, with dribblings in a square. He's a team player and also works when is required. Disciplined player that got a goal in the second half, and what a goal. He smashed a beautiful strike. The GK still looking for the ball.
Carlos 8: Released. The Colombian come fresh and happy to this game. He start in the bench with the spanish. He was ambitious and as soon as he came off the bench he practically make a mess in the defensive line of UNSW. Playing along with Jason in english, Marco in spanish, and football with the ball, he scored a magnificient goal with a good strike, and a perfect colocation.
Marco 9: Tightrope walker. Like Carlos, he was happy and ready to play. As usual, he started a bit accelerated, until he got the touch with the fake grass. From there he was a nightmare for the defenders. Pressing and pushing the lines, he was involved in so many attacking plays. He scored a goal with class, good for get some confidence. When he combined with Jack and Carlos/Jason something good will happen.
Kenny 8: Sober. Totally composed inside the field, playing as a wing or as a midfielder, he controle the tempo of the ball doing the correct pass most part of the time, also, he played deep as a wing, giving options to a lot of crosses in the box or pass to the second line. In one of those he got an assistance to Pat. Fantastic ending for a great game.
ROSS GOAL AGAINST DUNBAR ROVERS
Or how to score a penalty like a men...
Or how to score a penalty like a men...
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