Match reports. January 2009 onwards.
Universal 7 Maccabi 2
14th June, 2009
Universal were a whole magnitude better than the previous week - and Maccabi had to bear the punishment. Mickey in goal, Pierre, Justin, Abou and Sunil from right to left in defence; Curtis in holding midfield, Oday and Kwabi right and left wingers, Maka in attacking midfield; McGall and William formed the strike partnership.
Scoring opened soon after Maccabi kicked off, after Superb pass by Oday and excellent strike by Curtis. 0-1. Curtis placed high ball to William who attempted a chip on the keeper - it was held. From a long throw-in by Abou, Kwabi won a header wide. Then Maccabi were almost torn apart when Oday read their passing at the back - only a finger-tip save from Maccabi’s keeper kept him out - and the keeper then regained his posture quick enough to stop Curtis following through from the rebound off the post.
McGall was beginning to take long shots at goal and they were getting closer to the target. After Maka cut through Maccabi’s defence like a knife, he was brought down in the 18yard box winning a penalty. Curtis converted. Indirect free kick was awarded to Universal - in the 18yard box - after Oday’s attempt to scoop the ball away from the defenders feet was smothered by the defender. Maccabi’s defence stayed disciplined and behind the ball, withstanding a series of passes around the 18 yard box for almost a minute. But as soon as they were given a chance to press forward, a high pass over them found William now able to chip their keeper. 0-3 with 20 minutes gone.
Maccabi pull a goal back from sloppy possession in Universal’s defence. But Oday and McGall linked up to break through and McGall finished sweetly by turning the ball accurately around the keeper. 1-4. William missed a couple of chances and had the ball scooped from his feet by the keeper. But the next time the ball broke through Maccabi’s flat defence, McGall judged the keepers run and with a burst of pace, beat him to the ball to put it in the net. 1-5.
The first half came to a close at 5-1 after spells of passing by Universal who now looked relaxed - McGall, trying a long shot from outside the 18yard box - went just wide of a golden hat-trick.
By Pierre’s saving interception, chipping it over his own cross-bar, Maccabi were denied a chance of scoring early in the second half. Mickey held the corner that followed. Oday solo skills baffled his marker, and made it to the ball after his first shot was parried back out by the keeper. He was then fouled, the free kick was taken quickly and direct, but the keeper held.
David subbed on for Kwabi. McGall’s cross found William, his header was on target but the keeper denied him. David’s first chance to make an impact with a finely tuned pass was denied after Pierre was caught off side. Oday shot from range, keeper managed just enough contact to kill the ball and hold it. The keeper almost misjudged Maka’s shot and seemed to ignore it until after it hit his cross-bar and came back out. Maka’s shot from William’s lay-off was just wide.
Maccabi still opened scoring with cross slammed into the keeper - he had no way of controlling it as it went in.
Oday pulled a good save out of Maccabi’s keeper, they were still beginning to earn a bit of possession and a chance to test Universal’s defensive discipline. But they were gutted when McGall shot as soon as he got within range and performed a Tiger-woods chip over the keeper, in off the inside of the post and into the net. 2-6. Oday breaking through was brought down in the 18yard box to win Universal another penalty - but Oday took and it was held.
Kwabi was substituted back on for Oday for missing his penalty - had he an immediate impact by winning a corner for Abou to header in. The whistle blew, 7-2 to Universal. SUL Champions 2008-09.
 Universal 2 Upfront 5
7th June, 2009
This was a chance for Universal to seal their victory of the SUL league. However Upfront, though out of contention for the league title, would show us the honour by fighting hard for a result in their favour. This game enjoyed the strongest turn out for Universal. The starting line-up: Mickey in goal; Adam, Abou, Amadou and Sunil from right to left; Curtis holding midfield, Jean-Yves and Kwabi in the wings with Maka in attacking midfield; McGall and Raphael strikers. Oday, Justin, William and Armand stood by in reserve.
For the fist ten minutes after Upfront kicked off, Universal dominated the attack. Took the lead in 2nd minute from Sunil’s superb free kick. But Raphael missed his chance to extend it, he beat the offside trap but not the keeper. Then universal had to defend. Two of Upfront’s drives were driven back. Mickey stopped a powerful shot from range and held a 22yard free kick. And after Amadou’s tackles dismantled a couple of shooting chances it began to look as if Universal could contain.
In the 15th minute, a link up between Jean-Yves and Raphael cut through defence, but Raphael’s finish parried wide for a corner. Raphael got a glancing header on the corner but it went wide. Then Upfront’s equaliser came from a long-ball forward counter attack which was finished well just past Mickey’s hands. 1-1.
Justin brought on for Amadou’s who had taken a knock from one of his earlier tackles. Jean-Yves break through Upfront’s tight defence opened space for Maka to shoot - his shot bounced offack out off the cross bar. Upfront defenders managed to contain much of the pressure from Jean-Yves and Kwabi on the wings, but Kwabi broke through and found McGall with enough space for a shot - but instead of shooting he laid it off for Raphael running up towards the far post and off-side. McGall wishes he took the shot himself.
Half-time score 1-1. For the start of the second half, Moran substituted Oday and William for Sunil and Raphael. Pulling Kwabi back into leftback, with Oday in the wing; and William in place of Raphael up front. 10 minutes played to no avail until Armand was brought on for McGall. Upfront were pressed, but broke suddenly when Universal overcommitted. It was three against two and the goal was inevitable on the counter-break. But after a foul in midfield that brought out a yellow card against Upfront. Curtis released Armand who laid it off for William to finish. 2-2
Sustained pressure yielded a corner which found the head of Abou, but he was instantly under pressure and directed the ball over the cross bar. The sucker-punch came after 20 minutes - Mickey stopped a free kick from 25 yards but the rebound fell to Upfront who put it in. Then when Curtis slid to defend a long ball forward - he tackled in the 18yard box and managed to clear the ball out into touch, but his mark went down over him winning a penalty which was converted.
After a free kick and a penalty, Universal were suddenly two goals behind with 15 minutes remaining.
Maka just wide, Oday did well to break through but his finish was wildly off. Jean-Yves had two crosses blocked, Curtis just wide, Maka and Oday linked up but could not shoot in time. Left open at the back, Upfront’s two-on-two counter-break was finished with aplomb. After a last stroke attempt by Kwabi was blocked, the game finished with the 2-5 defeat.
Universal 10 Pollokshields 3
31st May, 2009
There was an unexpected heads up from Moran: the end of the amateur, junior and even professional football seasons can give rise to an influx of very skilful players - and most of whom compete in the SUL may know someone who’s free to take part. So there was no room for complacency in this game against Pollokshields. The diamond midfield formation was: Mickey in goal; Pierre, Justin, Abou and Sunil from right to left in the back; Curtis in holding midfield, Oday and Kwabi right and left wingers and McGall attacking midfield; Raphael and William up front.
In the opening minutes, Sunil, taking advantage of Pollokshields defender’s reluctance to press forward, took a long free kick from his own half to Raphael on the wing only 20yards from touch. He beat the first marker and scooped the ball up for William who had a free header but it was off target. Mickey was tested twice by long-ball counter attacks, but holding a direct shot and well judging his run off the line, he was not found wanting.
Scoring opened in the 7th minute when McGall found Kwabi on the wing, Kwabi drove up with great pace and crossed the ball in perfectly for William to finish 1-0. Soon after that in a similar move, Oday crossed in from the right for Curtis to header in - his finish missed but far off.
In the 20th minute, some great passing moves through midfield granted McGall a shot at goal which was parried out by the keeper, Raphael picked up the rebound but his return missed the goal. A minute later, Kwabi was involved again, he crossed in for McGall to volley at goal - on target but it was beaten out for a corner. However, Kwabi was at the receiving end of the corner and put it away as a reward for his efforts. Then another minute later, more passing moves put Raphael in position to cross in for William to finish. 3-0.
After Pollokshields pulled one goal back from a defensive error, Kwabi’s pace beat Pollokshield’s defence again. He crossed in for McGall to volley and this time it couldn’t be stopped. 4-1. Kwabi drew another cross a minute later, this time for Raphael who could only put it wide. McGall was released by Oday in the penalty area and he laid it for Raphael to finish but Raphael was tackled before he could complete his shot. The first half ended with Universal 5-1 up.
At half time it was clear that Pollokshields hadn’t been able to present a major threat - the rest of this game would aim for as many goals as possible, and a an endeavour from Raphael to reach 30 league goals this season. It took only 5 minutes: Oday was driving forward through the defence and combined with Raphael for a one-two, Raphael was brought down in the 18yard box. He converted the penalty. 5-1.
Abou was substituted owing to strain injury, so Magnum came on to occupy the right wing while Oday - ever flexible - would now be full back. As soon as the substitution was complete, Kwabi broke through the defence, turned around the keeper and rolled the ball in from a fine angle. 6-1.
Pollokshields were still being kept out by Mickey and Curtis at the back, but in the attack Raphael was not in luck - he was stopped by Pollokshield’s keeper after some close control successfully beat his markers. But at least he would still assist Kwabi with a cross. Kwabi’s finish was accurately placed in the top corner but the keeper still managed to get to it and hold.
With 20 minutes remaining, a torrent of goals then came in, but the first two for Pollokshields. The first from open play when they beat the off-side line to break through and finish. And the second a minute later when a tackle by Oday was awarded a penalty. 6-3. Then McGall’s cross was tapped in by Curtis, a Raphael assist fed William his hat-trick, William broke through with a solo effort to score his fourth, then Kwabi scored his hat-trick by heading in from a corner.
For the impact that Kwabi had on his return, it would be provident that he would earn a hat-trick from this game. Furthermore, William’s phenomenal scoring record would continue - now 9 from 4 games. Raphael is (only) 3 goals away from his league 30 - Upfront will have much to worry about in the league decider next week!
Universal 5 Prostar 1
10th May, 2009
Prostar have not been very successful this season, but they are still a physically strong and attacking side. So at least this game would test Universal’s defensive discipline.
While Ibby is away recovering from surgery, another substitute keeper, Mickey, had to be found. Pierre, Justin, Sunil and Adam, from right to left, formed the back-line. In the diamond midfield formation, Curtis was placed in holding; McGall and Greg as right and left wingers, and Maka in attacking midfield. Magnum and Raphael formed the strike partnership. Universal kicked off.
For the first ten minutes, the only sight on goal came from set-pieces which did not score. Then on open play, a through pass by Greg found Magnum. He did enough to take the ball around the keeper but his finish went wide. But minutes later, Raphael broke through the defence, won a penalty and converted it. 1-0. From a free kick, Greg’s long pass found Curtis in a shooting position. Curtis was on target but his shot was parried back out. Then Greg and Raphael linked up to steal the loose ball in the 18yard box and clean up. 2-0 with 15 minutes lapsed.
Mickey may have expressed doubts about his quality in goal at the start of the game, but he proved himself wrong by stopping Prostar’s best chance so far with a double save after 24 minutes. Then Prostar were further frustrated. A quality turn and strike by Raphael while he was surrounded by defenders in the 18 yard box put Universal 3-0 up. A minute later Raphael scooped the ball up in the air for Greg to finish with a header but Greg’s attempt went just wide.
A Prostar defender picked up the first booking for a foul. From the free kick awarded, Greg placed the ball towards the top corner forcing a great save by Prostar’s keeper. The first half finished 3-0.
The second half started like the first, without anything breaking through for either side. Until ten minutes in, when a loose ball was left to run out of touch but instead stayed in and was pounced upon by Prostar striker who made no mistake in putting it away 3-1.
This was one shoot chance for Prostar to Universal’s three: first Maka scooped the ball high to chip the keeper but it was held, Curtis was unlucky not to get his shot on target, but when Magnum found himself surrounded by defenders in the 18yard box, he still managed to lay it off for Raphael to complete his hat-trick. 4-1.
Greg good pass to Raphael, but keeper held shot. From a free kick from 35yards from goal, Maka found Magnum in a good position, but with his back was to goal he did not get enough time to turn before he was closed down. From another free kick right on the edge of the box - Curtis gave Raphael a chance for a header but this went wide.
Later, Raphael tried again to thread a shot through while closed down by defenders, it went wide and did not spot Magnum who was in space and clear sight of goal. Magnum was again frustrated when shot he got in was disallowed. Finally, Adam drove up and with an assist from Raphael finished to bring the score line to 5-1. This was the final score.
The score line should have been much higher - but in addition to Universal not taking their chances, practically 20 minutes of game time was lost by the late kick off. When all SUL games are played on a single pitch, and ground keeper has to lock up the changing rooms on time - it is not possible to overrun games to accommodate for late arrivals, delayed kick-offs or the time needed for players to warm up before a game. Although the required 3 points was earned from this game, the score line was a disappointment for players like Raphael - who’s aiming to exceed 30goals this season - and Magnum who is trying to get into the flow of scoring regularly. Furthermore, Prostar were not at all pleased about the time lost because they felt could have scored more in that time.
Universal 6 Hillhead 3
26th April, 2009
Universal was weakened defensively by injuries for Brian and Abou, and Ibby is recovering from an operation on his shoulder. However, Hillhead also had injury issues and their first-choice keeper is serving a suspension. No substitutes were available for either side. Moran’s strategy for this game was unprecedented: a squad of attack-minded players required an attacking 4-3-3 formation. Rab in goal with Sunil, Amadou, Justin and Adam from left to right in defence; Maka, Curtis and Jean-Yves from left to right in midfield; Oday, Armand and McGall as strikers.
Hillhead kicked off and within the 4th minute took the lead with an accurate threaded pass that beat markers pace and a chip over Rab into the net. It was a fast paced and open game and only a matter of time until Jean-Yves broke through Hillhead’s defence to equalise. 1-1.
Hillhead took the lead again with a break that defeated the off-side trap and finished well 1-2. Then Jean-Yves led a four-on-four counter break move, ending with a high pass from McGall for Armand to header in. 2-2 with 15 minutes lapsed.
Another Hillhead chance had forced Rab to come off his line. He was beaten by a header over him towards the net - but Sunil was back to cover and had time to compose himself before clearing it off the line. After 20 minutes a 25yards free kick by Armand’s went directly into the hands of Hillhead’s keeper - who did well to hold the powerful shot without being taken off his feet! Maka, Jean-Yves and Oday all attempted shots from range to test Hillhead’s reserve keeper but he was not found wanting.
Five minutes before the break Rab came off his line to tackle the last man, got his hand to the ball but the player went down - a penalty awarded to Hillhead which was converted 3-2. The equaliser came just before half time: Armand was released by an incisive pass threaded through Hillhead’s defence, he beat the keeper and rolled it in towards the net - in spite of desperate efforts to clear off the line, it went in. The first half finished 3 each.
Universal kicked off the second half and both sides continued as before - playing a fast-paced end to end open game. Hillhead drew the first shooting chance forcing Rab to parry a shot off his line and out for a corner which was cleared. On the other side Oday had broken through and finished but he was ruled off side. On the 6th minute, the giant Armand headed in a Jean-Yves cross to put Universal 4-3 and in the lead for the first time in the match.
Now that Armand had done the damage with his hat-trick, the onus was now on Rab, Adam and Amadou to defend against a series of chances for Hillhead.
On the 8th minute, after Hillhead had broken through the defence, Rab had to come off his line and was roundly beaten. The last man had only to get into step so he could tap-in to an open goal… but no!! Amadou appeared from out of nowhere, slid in to tackle from behind, neatly extracted the ball from the players feet and got back up to drive the ball away with time and space to spare.
In the 10th minute, a Hillhead free kick from 20yards found it’s way round the wall, clear of the keeper and on target - but Adam was guarding the net and headed the shot off the line. Minutes later Adam would make another goal-saving tackle. Then after Rab held a shot with 20 minutes remaining it was becoming apparent that Hillhead could be broken by Universal’s defence! But Moran was yelling from touch for a second goal lead before he felt it was safe to contain.
Jean-Yves and Maka broke through into Hillhead’s defence but were denied a chance to shoot by the defence. Then McGall found space to turn on the ball and threaded a pass through the eye of the needle before Oday’s run into the 18yard box! Oday put it away to extend the lead to 5-3 and all of Hillhead’s efforts looked broken with 15 minutes to play.
So it was now Universal’s game to attack. Armand was holding the ball in front of Hillhead’s 18yard box, drew defenders into him and back-heeled a pass into the path of McGall who chipped the ball over the keeper towards the top corner but narrowly missed. Maka let loose one of his characteristic drives - cutting through like a knife with the ball obediently before him, but he was unlucky not to round off this wonderful display with a finish on target.
Then with over 8 minutes to go Oday tricked his marker and caught Hillhead’s defence scrambling to cover the gap he made in their 18yard box. He finished sweetly to make the final score 6-3.
But while Oday was putting it away one of Hillhead’s defenders sustained a serious injury in front of his own goal and Jim the referee deemed that the game could not continue. This unfortunate incident put an emotional dampener on an important victory for Universal.
Credit where it’s due: Moran fielded a 4-3-3 but to Hillhead in the second half it might have well been against a 1-3-3 with three goal keepers! Rab, Adam and Amadou performed exceptionally well and their incisive tackles and interceptions that were worth goals in their own right.
Universal has consolidated it’s lead of the SUL table with a significant lead in goal difference. Hillhead, in spite of had their own troubles were still a very dangerous side that pressured Universal for phases of the game, but now their fortunes have taken a severe beating with their league position dropping behind Mosspark, Upfront and Maccabi.
Universal 6 SYLA 1
12th April, 2009
Drawing level on points with Hillhead, Universal would need a goal rout to assert their position on top of the league. Ibby in goal; Adam, Justin, Sunil and Brian from right to left in defence; Amadou in holding midfield, Jean-Yves and Curtis as right and left wingers, Maka in Attacking midfield; Raphael and Oday up front. McGall, William, and Greg were available as subs.
SYLA kicked off but could not get to grips with possession, and it was proving difficult for everyone owing the weather which had just let go with bursts of hail, sleet and freezing rain. However, Amadou managed take the lead by intercepting in midfield and driving all the way into the net, 1-0. Shortly after, an Adam drive cuts up SYLA’s defence and with Jean-Yves assist, he puts it away. 2-0.
SYLA pull one back with a close passing attack. 2-1. And they got a chance to do it again and shot on target but Ibby held it with ease. With only a few minutes remaining of the first half. Oday chipped the ball high over the defenders in front Raphael to finish but Raphael scooped it over. Moran substituted Raphael for McGall. The break came with 2-1 on the scoresheet and a hailstorm soaked half time talk.
Oday opened the scoring for the second half with a precise strike between his markers from outside the 18yard box. 3-1. McGall followed with more precision, a fine angled shot after turning it around the keeper. 4-1.
Two more goals followed after Sunil was substituted for Greg and Oday substituted for William.
The 5th by Jean-Yves from open play and the 6th by William from a tap in after short corner was crossed in front of him. The game finished 6-1.
In spite of an easy run against SYLA it didn’t feel like the result was any more significant than what would have been achieved if SYLA had phoned up to quit before-hand and award Universal a default 5-0 win. However Mosspark, who had recently beaten Universal 3-1, were now out of the way and gratuitously beating other table leaders. The top of the table is of a whole new character with less than 6pts separating the top five.
Universal 7 Pronations 2
5th April, 2009
After a string of games in which Universal had dropped points, Moran was calling for nothing less than a convincing defeat over Pronations, and the following team delivered: Ibby in goal; Adam, Justin, Sunil and Brian in defence; Curtis in holding midfield, Jean-Yves and Duran as right and left wingers, with Maka in attacking midfield; Raphael and Oday formed the striking partnership up front.
Pronations kicked off but the ball was taken off them in a second. And Universal pressed them constantly making a series of shooting chances: four for Raphael, one for Curtis, one for Oday - none of which ..
There were some noises of frustration for not having scored, but only 10 minutes of play had passed! And Pronations were keen to prove they would not be pushed over: Ibby was tested by powerful shot which he parried and cleared, but with a header from a corner Smart found Ibby’s net to put Pronations in the lead. But their lead only lasted a couple of minutes: Jean-Yves assists and Oday finishes put Universal 2-1 into the lead.
Pronation’s tried unsuccessfully to get back into the game, with one attack forcing Ibby to tackle the last man outside of the 18yard box and then save the shot off the rebound. Pronations then failed to capitalise from a 3 against 2 counter break with their finish going wide. With 30 minutes gone, Andy was substituted for Duran on the left wing.
Maka’s game now. Drive into the keeper, laid it off for Curtis - but the finish was wide. Maka formed the next shooting chance for Oday which was parried out into touch. But his next assist was to make an opening through the defence for Oday make his hat-trick with a powerful shot from range. 3-1.
Universal 2 Unreal Madrid 2
29th March, 2009
After a rest long enough for most of Universal’s key players to recover from injury, Unreal would present the biggest test so far. Universal had a strong line-up: Ibby in goal; Adam, Oday, Justin and Brian from right to left in defence; Tony in holding midfield, Jean-Yves and Curtis on the right and left wing and Maka returns to attacking midfield; McGall and Raphael formed striker partnership.
I missed the first half which Unreal kicked-off. It ended 0-0. But Moran maintained that the run of play was clearly in favour of Universal. They created a plethora of shooting chances with lots of attacking play. Jean-Yves claimed he missed five good chances.
Universal kicked off the second half. And with 30 minutes to go the game opened up. Tony threaded a pass through the middle to McGall who beat his marker and finished to take the lead.
But less than 5 minutes later, Unreal took one back and Ibby takes the fall, he positioned himself well to stop and hold a chip from range but mishandled it, conceding the goal and injuring himself along the way. 1-1.
With 25 minutes left, Duran was substituted on for Raphael.
Oday threaded a pass through to Curtis, but the keeper’s positioning forced his finish wide. Then in the counter attack, Unreal were unlucky not to take the lead when Ibby was exposed one-on-one against the last strikers, he was beaten but his finish was just wide off the post of an open goal.
Curtis - in a brilliant play - beat his markers and drew the keeper in towards him at the corner of the 18-yard box. He managed to beat the keeper near the touch-line and crossed it in for Jean-Yves to tap in. Though it was a Jean-Yves finish, this was very much Curtis’s goal.
McGall and Curtis, with tight passing between them, fashioned spell in possession in the 18-yard box, and created a chance for Duran to finish. But when he got the ball he was on the wrong side of it and was dispossessed. Then the counter attacking move by Unreal was incisive: Ibby was forced to come off his line and outside his own 18 yard box to race to the ball, he had to header the ball clear. It feel to a Unreal player who chipped it back towards goal, but Ibby was very quick to get back to his line and, this time, made no mistakes in holding.
With only two minutes remaining, Universal pressed too far in the corner of Unreal’s half. When possession was lost it cost dearly with another Unreal counter attacking move, which this time, outnumbered the full backs and was impossible to defend. Last gasp free kick by Curtis was taken high and Oday headed it in towards goal, but the keeper was well positioned and held.
Mosspark 3 Universal 1
8thth March, 2009
A third defeat loses Universal their commanding the lead on the table.
Even though the team was at full strength a number of factors like injury and late-arrivals made Universal significantly weaker side. Ibby in goal; from right to left in defence was Justin, Abou, Sunil and Adam; Garfield holding midfield, Magnum and David wingers with Curtis attacking midfield; McGall and Oday strikers. Robert was the only substitute but Raphael was on stand-by.
Mosspark’s first goal went in seconds after they kicked off. It as if Universal’s defence wasn’t even ready to play.
However, in spite of the bad start Universal still managed to control most of the first half. Though Mosspark’s defence was strongest in midfield, Garfield, Curtis, David and Magnum all found ways through to test Mosspark’s shaky defenders. Only no goals would emerge from their efforts.
Magnum missed a chance after he managed to thread through the defenders but the ball got away from him and run across the face of Mosspark’s goal. Curtis attempted to chip the keeper who was off his line, it beat him but came off the top of the cross bar and out of play. Then, from a corner, Magnum managed to volley with his left foot but his attempt went wide past the near post.
A goal from set-piece was disallowed after it emerged there were two balls on the field. (This was the fault of Moran and myself.) The referee ordered the free kick to be taken again and this time the keeper held the shot.
Second half Raphael came on for Magnum to go upfront in place of Oday who would start playing in right midfield. David, Garfield and Raphael all managed shots off target. But after 10 minutes a gaff by Sunil cost dear, he was caught in possession in the 18 yard box and got penalised by the second goal.
Raphael was unable to continue so Robert came on with 20 minutes to go. A corner taken by David found Curtis who turned it in with a fine header. 2-1.
The weather throughout most of the game was a blizzard, and it was proving difficult players on both sides to concentrate if they stood still for too long. So Ibby was playing with considerable effort to stop three shots on target.
A further two Mosspark crosses made it across the face of Ibby’s goal during the second half and luckily found no one to tap them in. But still a third goal was conceded in the closing minutes after defence was caught trying to keep the ball in play rather than clearing it up field.
Some Universal players hampered by injuries and Mosspark are a team on form, but that is still no excuse for losing 3 soft goals against a side that Universal was still capable of beating.
Universal 5 Inter-Thistle 1
22nd February, 2009
Though Interthistle trail at the foot of the table, this game would rather be an opportunity to develop on Universal’s recent poor defensive discipline - rather than opportunity for lots of goals. Raphael was unable to play with a ham-string injury, and Abou was unavailable. But since McGall was back Moran could pull Oday back into defence for this game.
Universal kicked off the first half with Ibby in goal, Justin, Sunil, Oday and Brian from right to left in defence; Duran holding midfield with Adam and David right/left wingers, Curtis attacking midfield. Magnum and McGall up front as strikers. Two substitutes Andy and Robert waited in touch.
Adam making most of the attacking play with three crosses in the first 5 minutes putting Interthistle’s defence in a panic. The best chance almost fell to David as his marker lost control of the ball in the 18yard box, but it went out before David could pounce. Curtis crossed into the box from the right and fed Adam a chance but he hit the side netting. Duran kept his balance while turning quickly on the ball, placed it towards Curtis who was near the penalty spot, Curtis fell back and scissor-kicked - it was only a foot over the cross bar.
After 15 minutes, a 45-yard free kick by Brian screamed towards the top corner but was tipped onto the cross-bar by the keeper. Duran tipped Magnum a chance to volley a shot at goal but his finish was soft and didn’t trouble the keeper. The was a short spell of what looked like a five-a-side game inside Interthistle’s 18yard box, Universal keeping possession but not getting a clear shot at the goal.
Curtis, Oday and McGall all threaded passes through Interthistle’s defence but each chance was intercepted before it could be finsihed. But it was Adam’s pass to McGall that paid dividends in the 22nd minute, McGall was through with only the keeper to beat which he did so with aplomb. 1-0.
Oday was awarded a free kick 40yards out which - like Brian’s - was screaming towards the top corner before being tipped onto the cross bar by the keeper. Curtis was in the box to header the rebound but the keeper held. A minute later it was Sunil’s turn to blast a free kick in from 30yards but his attempt did not make it through the wall.
David and McGall threaded some quick passes though Interthistle’s 18yard box for Magnum to finish - Magnum’s header was parried out by a reaction save but he put away up the rebound with a back heel into the net. 2-0.
Free kick by Duran from just under 30yards made it over the wall but just over the cross bar. For the last 5 minutes of the first half, Adam and McGall dominated play in the right hand side and kept Interthistle pinned, they conceded two corners. Brian took both corners from opposite sides and the second one found Sunil unmarked two yards from the goal line - he simply headed it in. 3-0.
Just after the start of the second half was David was apparently felled in the 18yard box and made a penalty claim. It took referee Jim some time to decide but in the end awarded the free-kick Interthistle’s way.
Adam threaded a cross in front of Interthistle’s goal line, it was slow by it still by-passed two defenders and the keeper finding surprised Magnum on the end of it but the keeper was quick enough to smother the ball before he could react. Another Adam cross had both Magnum and David charging towards the far post for a tap in but both missed and ended up tumbling into the goal while the ball went out.
Substitute Andrew came on for Magnum in the 5th minute and immediately got into the action when a pass through the defence by Curtis put him into a race for the ball near the edge of the box against the keeper who got there first. A drive by Oday went straight through midfield and defence leaving no choice but to finish for himself, unfortunately wide. A high clearance by Sunil fell to Curtis to shoot after his marker was beaten by it’s bounce, but Curtis’s shot was parried back out by the keeper. But 15 minutes in he found the score sheet, the ball was chipped into the 18yard box and Curtis helped it into the net on with a cheeky back-header, 4-0.
20 minutes in David broke through and was met by the keeper on the edge of the box who came out to meet him, there was a collision that - in spite of the keeper sustaining a bloody injury - was awarded a free kick Universal’s way. The free kick came to nothing but delayed the game for a couple of minutes. The keeper was substituted for first aid.
Robert was substituted for Duran and immediately got involved in tight five-a-side style passing play in and around Interthistle’s defence. The ball rolled in front of David so quickly it caught him by surprise so he did not have enough time to react.
In 10 minutes remaining both Curtis and Robert got shots but they were off target. Oday was felled by a clumsy challenge and limped away after an altercation. But his injury did not stop him attempting a shot from 30yards which was held. Robert attempted a powerful shot which was parried out, Andrew was unlucky to miss a chance to tap in the rebound after the ball bounced unpredictably away from him. However - after these two good stops, the keeper gaffed by trying to control the ball outside his 18yard box, he lost control giving Curtis an easy goal. 5-0.
In the last minutes of the game, Interthistle pulled one goal back after the off-side trap in Universal’s defence went disastrously wrong. Ibby had been tested by a couple of shots in this game and was not found wanting so it was a pity not to keep a clean sheet. The next game will be in a fortnight against second-place Maccabi.
Ansar 5 Universal 3
8th February, 2009
The second round of matches for the 2008-09 season again started with a disappointment against Ansar, only this time the result was much much worse. For this game Moran was missing some first choice players for the role of keeper, holding midfield and right wing. Ryan in goal, Justin, Sunil, Abu and Brian from right to left in defence. Andy in holding midfield, Kevin started in right wing with David on the left, and Maka returned to play his usual place in attacking midfield. Oday and Raphael as strike partnership.
Ansar’s first goal came in the first minute after they kicked off - the initial shot was stopped but Ryan failed to keep hold of the ball and it slipped through.
Unfazed, Universal pressed ahead with a series of crosses and winning a free kick, but it all yielded nothing. Then, while defence was caught in possession near the 18yard box - Ryan was beaten to extend Ansar’s lead. 0-2 down with soft goals. But Ansar’s 3rd goal was well earned, after a string of passing that proved to be better than Universal’s positional play. 0-3 with less than 15 minutes gone.
Sunil twice attempted to make amends. A free kick found Sunil’s head but he directed it just over the cross bar. Then direct from a corner, Sunil volleyed it on target - but it was cleared off the line. Then in the 20th minute Brian drove into the 18yard box and was brought down winning a penalty. Raphael converted from the spot. 1-3.
After good crosses by Andy and then Oday could not be finished. Maka, with aplomb, won the ball in midfield and passed to Raphael in the corner of the 18yard box. While the keeper was coming out to meet him, Raphael coolly laid it off for Oday to tap into an empty net before Ansar’s defenders could fall on the line to block it. 2-3 and a well worked goal.
With 10 minutes of the 1st half remaining, Moran substituted Kevin for Andy II - pulling Oday back into right midfield and putting the substitute in his place.
Free kick taken quickly by Oday to David, David crossed in for Abu to header - it was accurate but had no power and was easy to stop. From a throw-in Oday was released into space near the edge of the box, but his finish was wide. And in the last seconds of the first half Ansar’s keeper had made a rapid series of saves from shots by Oday, Andy and Raphael.
Shortly after kicking off the second half, Universal was unlucky not to level after Raphael drew a double save from Ansar’s keeper. Then Abu was severely punished, he was out-paced on the run to a loose ball and it resulted in a goal. Then a minute later in a defensive gaff, the ball was only a couple of yards away from the keeper who appeared to be closest to it and was free to pick it up - but he didn’t and an Ansar player pounced and scored. Ansar had extended their lead to 5-2 with two very cheap goals.
More credit then goes to Ansar’s keeper for keeping out Oday, tipping Maka’s shot over the cross bar and punching out David’s volley. After Abu broke through midfield - he ignored shouts to shoot at goal himself and instead laid the ball off for Raphael. Raphael’s shot from the corner of the 18yard box was too good for the keeper. 5-3 with 10 minutes to go.
But the last minutes Ansar players played cynically, they were shown 3 yellow cards and were reduced to 10 men from bad tackles and wasting time. But Universal still could not score and the game finished 5-3 in Ansar’s favour.
Universal paid for a shortage of players and lapses in positional discipline. Poor concentration gave too much room for Ansar to take it’s chances, and when this happened, Ibby’s absence through injury would be felt as Ryan - though an experienced keeper - was not quick on his feet where Ibby would have been charging out. Furthermore, the substitute Andrew who came on for Kevin after 35 minutes barely got any involvement in the game.
Comments»
what a hammering from a VERY average team.