21/01/2016
VIKINGS MATCH REPORT no. 9
JIFL Season 2015 – 2016, Wednesday 20.01.2016
VIKINGs – SABOR LATINOS 4 – 3
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This ninth JIFL game of the first leg of the season was a heroic fight, in which an excellent team spirit, devotion and sticking to the tactical plan till the very last whistle brought the Vikings a well-deserved win over a good playing Sabor Latinos team. The coach selected 15 players of which he though would form a winning and they didn’t let him down. The Vikings delivered an outstanding performance resulting in a match to remember.
The Match
The tactical plan was to play compact and the midfielders Diego, Christian, Soren and Mark as well as attacker Seamus running back to defending midfield positions, as soon as Sabor got the ball on their own half an start to play their tikkie takkie Barcelona like game. With Thomas as the exception, cause he needs to be sharp when an opportunity presents itself. Directed and lead by the central defender Jacob, the midfielders run more miles than they ever must have done before.. The other defenders Harry, Jon G and Alex were much focused and hardly gave the Sabor attackers a chance. Alex and the experienced way of his playing was a perfect combination with Mark on the left side.
If Thomas would have had a bit more luck in two occasions and Christian V in one, we could have lead with 3 against 0 after 15 minutes. In the first 20 to 25 minutes the Vikings were very dominant with almost no ball loss and making the Sabor Latinos players running behind them. The Vikings were showing some excellent team play, but to all Vikings present regrets more chances were missed.
After 20 minutes however our Viking persistence paid off. Alex received the ball from Nur, out maneuvered Sabor attacker Rodrigo and passed to Mark, who directly passed on to the sprinting Diego just over the middle line. Diego – for once – didn’t hold the ball, but controlled it and saw Christian V. running on the left outer side of the pitch. A deep cross ball was skillfully controlled by Christian V, who ran to the end of the pitch, fooled a Sabor defender (with a move that showed that Christian must have had a ballet course or two in the past) and launched a perfect crossing into the penalty area, where he saw Thomas steaming up to the goal. Thomas jumped high and rose to unprecedented heights and managed to get his head against the right part of the ball, thus placed the ball in the goal on a spot where neither the goallie, nor any other Sabor was present. The goallie saw the header but only caught some air, 1 – 0. A superb header Thomas!
The goal was a trigger for Sabor to show that can play ball as well and they managed to push the Vikings back. After 25 minutes Seamus and Soren were replaced by Stewart and Nils, so they could recover from the miles they ran and the battles they fought. It was in the last 15 minutes of thei first half that Mark and Alex on the left side showed that experience is valuable, if you use it and play simple. On the right side Diego, Stewart and Jon G. ran their butts off as well but in a more battling and energy eating way. They nevertheless also managed to stop or intercept Sabor attacks over the right side. Jacob and Harry made sure that every ball that came through was for one of them. And when needed Nur was there to keep his sheet clean.
Unfortunately the first real aggressive attack of one of our battling Vikings caused a free kick about 20 meters from the goal. A canon ball launched by Sabor Julito could only be stopped by Nur, but the ball was too hard to keep it and it bounce back from his breast just in front of the feet of the incoming Latino Alberto, who tipped in the equalizer just about half time, 1 – 1.
In the second half the coach didn’t want to change the tactics too much, because he was more than satisfied with the performance of the team. He told the team that goals would surely come, because we just cannot be unlucky in finishing all the time. To assist Thomas more, Nils was pulled back to attacking midfielder while Christian V was moved to the left attacker position. Another tactical suggesting was that the midfielders should put more pressure from inside out on the midfield and not to play too much on the outside of the pitch, especially when Sabor has the ball. A more organization on the midfield. That was understood well.
The second half Vikings started as in the first half, controlling the game and attacking more and more. Christian and Diego got more space and showed Sabor, we have skillful players alike as well.
After we first missed two more big chances in the 14th and 15th minute Thunder Thomas showed two more times why he can also be called lethal Thomas. A characteristic usage of the lower part of the back side of his body – after he received the ball from Christian V – put him in a shooting position, wwhhammmm a straight shot in the right corner was too much to handle for the goallie and the 2 – 1 on the score board. Not even 60 seconds later, while the Vikings on the tribune were actually still cheering the lead, Thomas received the ball again after Nils intercepted and passed to him. A dry and precise shot followed and 3 -1 on the scoring boards.
Four minutes later the referee misjudged a fair tackle from one of our left defenders and decided it was even in the penalty box. This present was gratefully accepted by Sabor and Nur was left no chance 3 – 2.
Christian and Diego were furious about so much soccer injustice and took revenge on the only allowed and appreciated way, with a superb and excellent play! Receiving a pass from a defender Christian run from right to left keeping the ball with some glue at his left foot. The 3 Sabor Latinos players he out maneuvered looked like wooden dolls, so easy it looked how he overcame their attacks. He then waited till Diego was on a full sprint starting from his own half. At the right moment he passed the ball and Diego was gone, ging for victory. Some Sabor man, seeing the body posture it must have been Pedro, tried to run after him, but it was like a Ferrari against a Toyota Alphard. That Pedro only saw the back of Diego. With all the time of the world when Diego reached the penalty box, he waited for the goaliee to move and shot it simply in the open space of the goal, 4 – 2. Bravissimo!
What than followed was frustration on the side of some of the Sabor Latinos players. Sabor attacker Rodrigo couldn’t control himself anymore and hit Jacob or tried to hit him twice in the face, from which one was directly on target, luckily without causing any damage on Jacob;s pretty looks! Though the referee didn’t see it, his linesman did and a well-earned red card was Rodrigo’s reward. It must have been difficult, but the Vikings in the defense with Martin, Jacob, Harry (a little less) and Christian S. kept amazingly cool and didn’t jump in this trap of some of the Sabor Latinos players; making some extra fuss and hoping the opponent reacts negative and is also been sent off. Chapeau for the defense!!
After a few minutes Pedro tried to pull another trick and sneakily brought in another player, to make his team play with 11 men again. It was noticed by the Vikings, but the referee refused to stop the play immediately and because of a moment of lesser concentration Sabor Latinos scored the 4 – 3, be it this with an illegal player on the pitch. Trying to win some time and cooling the Vikings off, Seamus and Alex were brought in again. A hectic last five minutes didn’t change the score anymore, though both Diego and Thomas missed some excellent chances to score another goal. With 4 minutes of extra time granted, Sabor was too overpowered to score again. A well-deserved victory in a heroic, most memorable game. Three points added and still in for the title.
The Line ups
First half
GK: Nur Alfian
DF: Jon G – Harry – Jacob – Alex
MF: Soren (Stewart) – Diego – Christian S – Mark
AT: Thomas – Seamus (Nils)
Second half
GK: Nur Alfian
DF: Martin (Stewart) – Harry – Jacob – Christian S
MF: Soren (Alex) – Diego – Nils (Seamus) – Mark
AT: Thomas – Christian V
The Memorable moments
• Thomas scoring three exquisite goals taking revenge on every one who doubted him. A deep bow.
• Seeing Mark and Alex as a couple controlling the left side as if it didn’t cost them any efforts and trouble. Looked like they played together for years and years. Good understanding and assisting each other, perfect team players.
• Diego after his perfect goal against his old team mates.
• Pedro, the team captain and manager of Sabor Latinos refusing to shake hands with the Viking coach.
• The red card for Rodrigo on a call from his linesman.
The Goal scores and Assists
Thomas (Christian)
Thomas (Christian)
Thomas (Nils)
Diego (Christian)
The Naughty ones
Harry, for talking back too loud to the referee and Seamus for a tackle from behind.
The MOM
No surprise Thomas was, where Christian V made an great debut for the Vikings.
Your reporter
