Bitter defeat for the SPL Lions
[ SPL ] Marlins FC 4-3 Shanghai Lions (09 Dec 2012)
Everybody was on time for the decisive game against the Marlins. One of the most important game of the season as the two teams needed a result in order to stay in the race.
Tactic was to play physical and avoid corners and free kicks as much as possible as Marlins are usually good in this domain… After a couple of challenge, it was clear that our opponents were going to play really aggressive… Probably the kind of football that Kevin (the ref) like as he didn’t whistle that much. But Lions can also play this kind of football and the first 20 minutes we looked the more cohesive team on the pitch. We even were the first team hitting the target as our Kansas player Michael scored a fine header after a corner. But Marlins can play strong and Lions undergo strong contacts which disturbed us. That was the case of Gwen who take such kind of contact, not whistled by Kevin… After this he made two fault and get his Yellow card. A couple of minute later a gift from a Marlins defender let us leading the game 2-0 at half time.
Second half, the Marlins started better and pressure beginning to tell. After a good action from the right they finally scored. We had a good reaction as we didn’t panic and continue to play our football. Jack ‘on fire’ decided to take every free kick. That was a good idea as he delivered a perfect ball to our young talented Martin who scored a fantastic goal, 3-1 for the Lions. At that moment confidence was high for the Lions…
Seems to be a bad result as Kevin the ref whistled a imaginary penalty for a fault made outside the box… Everyone was surprised and this decision looks like a big robbery for us. Anyway that is football ! This goal changed everything as it put Marlins back in the game, without really fighting for. Then, they started to fight for every ball and after a couple of chances equalized. The fighting spirit changed camp and we finally conceded another goal. The last 10 min, Marlins played defensive and we struggle to come back but except one or two chances we weren’t able to score. 3-4 final score !
We learned a lot during this game, as player, as coach and as a team… And we will fight until the end to get our SPL title !!!
Let’s keep training and be ready for the santa cup !
Cheers
Co-Coach Gwen & Coach Six
