Lions Stay on Top of the SIFL!

Last Saturday, the Lions had an early kickoff at Waigaoqiao but were fully motivated to defend their top spot in the SIFL. We faced ReUnited—our opponents from the last SIFL Cup final—who are known for their two lightning-fast forwards.

🎯 First Half: Executing the Game Plan
Our strategy was simple: score first and control the pace. We started strong and achieved just that—Romain finished off a break to give us a 1-0 lead. ReUnited posed little threat in the first half, and a slightly deflected shot from Azzeddine right before the break gave us a comfortable 2-0 advantage.

🎄 Second Half: Early Gifts, Late Scares
What followed was a second half best described as Christmas on grass—both goalkeepers struggled on the slippery pitch. The ReUnited keeper mishandled a straightforward shot from Azzeddine, letting it slip through his gloves for our third goal.

With a 3-0 lead, we made some substitutions, but then gifted ReUnited a goal of their own. That sparked their comeback attempt, and for the last 20 minutes, we lost our rhythm and struggled to contain their long-ball attacks. It was a reminder that no game is over until the final whistle—and that there’s still room to grow.

⚠️ Final Score: Shanghai Lions 3–2 ReUnited
Despite a nervous ending, it was a well-earned victory that keeps us top of the SIFL table. With DIB losing and the Shooters smashing Azzurri, we strengthened our lead.

🛠️ Let’s use the upcoming break to stay fit, recover from minor injuries, and come back sharp for our next game vs. the Beavers on October 13th!

Let’s keep roaring!

Cheers,
Freek