[SIFL News] Round 11 – Games played on 10 Dec 2016
Premier League
Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC and Shanghai Lions FC tie. Shanghai United victorious over Shanghai 3United. Shanghai Japan FC beat FC Oranje. Shanghai ReUnited win versus Azzurri FC.
First Division
Shanghai Cosmos waltzed over Long Tang AFC. Shanghai Vikings FC beat Happy FC. Voodoo Child beat Anzacs FC. Voodoo and Shanghai Tianfu FC play a draw.
In the Premier League, FC Oranje crossed swords with Shanghai Japan FC. The Oranje franchise came with new balls, new strategy and new kit featuring three new sponsors; Orange Plastics, Xindao and Cages-Shanghai’s number 1 sports pub.
It inspired them greatly as they took the game to the Japanese with focus on attack. In the opening phase of the match the game went back and forth much to the surprise of everyone.
About 25mins in, Japan were awarded a free kick on the left 20 meters out. Yasutomo Toyofuku lined up behind the ball and crossed it in the box. The entire Dutch defense watched it bouncing in to the goal for a 0-1 Japan lead.
Oranje stuck to script and kept attacking. A few moments after the opening goal, the Dutch combined through the middle to play Tank Zhang free on the right. In a one on one with the keeper his effort went just wide and 0-1 it stayed after 45mins of play.
In the second half, both teams kept attacking. In the 55th minute Oranje had a huge chance when Daan van Eijkel received the ball in box but his effort hit the Japan keeper and the rebound went wide.
At the other end Tomoyuki Hirai was played free for a one on one with Dutch keeper Robin de Vos. The Fox made a brilliant save to keep his team in the match.
A few moments later, Japan beat the offside trap and their striker marched towards the keeper for another one on one. Keeper De Vos came out forcing an early shot that went wide of the goal.
The Dutch launched an all or nothing offense in the final minutes but Japan held on and secured a 0-1 victory. Yasutomo Toyofuku received man of the match honors.
Ralph Reijntjes and keeper Robin de Vos (above) played their last match for FC Oranje, thanks boys, spread the gospel we are open for new signings. The Oranje franchise went to the Radisson Blu Hong Quan for their annual Christmas dinner and football quiz.
Team Tom Jansen & Aurelien Souici (below) won the quiz and laid claim to five cases of Oranjeboom beer. On January 7 2017, FC Oranje will stage their new years party at Cages.
Shanghai United did battle with Shanghai 3United. United started ferocious on the match and displayed an enormous will to win.
It paid off as the 3United keeper had to fish the ball out of the net twice for a 2-0 United lead after 45mins of football. In the second half 3United regrouped somewhat and were able to keep their goal clean.
United took the foot of the pedal and simply played out the match. The contest ended with a 2-0 score line. Nikolai Filatov and man of the match Khomych Mykola scored United’s goals.
Shanghai ReUnited squared off versus Azzurri FC. ReUnited continued their great start to the season with their sixth win in seven games. It means they will go into the Christmas break still unbeaten in all competitions.
It was a testing game in which both teams created chances. ReU opened up the Italian team only once when Mandela ran through their defense and then shot over the crossbar. Azzurri had several chances as well but the half ended in a 0-0 stalemate.
In the second half, ReUnited upped the tempo and deservedly went ahead when Robert Eitel headed home from a cross by Miles Dycaico for 1-0. After that ReU locked up the match until William Hall diverted an Azzurri cross into his own net for 1-1.
ReUnited responded well as their offense carved out more and more chances but with Azzurri keeper Alex Dai Zhao in fine form the second goal proved elusive.
Some controversy as from one of the ensuing ReU attacks the ball ended up at Mandela who’s shot blasted onto the cross bar then appeared to cross the goal line before it bounced out and 1-1 it stayed.
ReUnited kept going and they finally got their reward when Adam Kling fired a powerful shot retaking the lead at 2-1. ReUnited then calmly played out the remainder of the match and ended the contest without much pressure. Adam Kling was voted man of the match.
It was a great result for ReUnited and great first half of the season as they have laid the foundations for another title run. They can now enjoy the Christmas break in fine spirits knowing that the opponents’ title aspirations suffered some serious dents. Azzurri didn’t care and went on to Cages where all the fun is….all the time!
Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC were up against the Shanghai Lions FC. First action of the match was Daniele Paolini’s broken nose but he quickly signaled thumbs up and got on with it.
The Lions started well playing good and fast combinations that created havoc in the Shooters defense. They then broke down the right and crossed in to find Allan Mendel at the back post to half volley in taking a 0-1 Lions lead.
It could have been 2-0 if Jack Boller’s flying header did not land on the post. Shooters weren’t ready to give in so early and fought hard to pull themselves back into the game. Before halftime this paid off as Tom Webster crossed from the left for Gui Leclercq to nod home, evening up the scores 1-1 before the whistle went.
The second half began and the Shooters started attacking with real intent. This led to their second of the day as Stefan Sturm flicked in another Webster cross for 2-1. Now on top they really could and should have made it three but they failed to convert more chances.
The Lions showed spirit and did not let up. David Rosenberg came close to evening out the score but keeper Chris Barnyard made a brilliant save and denied him. In the final phase it was Jack Boller’s looping header from a corner that tied the score 2-2. It was a well-deserved equalizer with both teams sharing the spoils.
Shooter Guy Leclercq and Lion Azzeddine Takouloufa received man of the match honors. Simon Moore: “We should have won!”
In the First Division, Long Tang AFC were pitted against Shanghai Cosmos. Cosmos were looking to extend their winning streak to five games. Straight from the whistle, Cosmos were pressing high and opened the scoring within the first few minutes. Jack Greenwell’s pass was redirected by Jonny Sellars for Conor Maye to put in the net and 0-1 to Cosmos.
From this point on, the rest of the game was a like a miss of the season compilation video on YouTube; Jordan Campbell’s air kick, Carl Ballantyne blazing over from 5 yards, Adam Stringer heading wide and three disallowed goals.
Cosmos finally settled the nerves. A nice interchange between Adam Stringer and Johnny Sellars left the latter one on one for 0-2. After a brief Long Tang resurgence, Campbell played in Stringer for 0-3 and Jack Greenwell made it 0-4 with a low drive before halftime.
In the second half, further blooper footage was recorded and Danny Dyer was contacted to provide the voiceover. In the 54th minute Campbell made it 0-5 with volleyed effort. The Mitchell brothers, on a rare excursion away from the Queen Vic, made light work of the right back and created room for Jonny Sellars to head home for 0-6.
Cosmos then broke away in midfield and Campbell finished for 0-7. Pete Bradford tucked away Campbell’s low cross for 0-8, before Ant ‘Grant’ Spark’s shot was saved allowing Bradford to head into an empty net for 0-9 and that’s how the contest ended.
Long Tang kept fighting until the end and probably deserved a couple of goals late on. Jack Greenwell received man of the match honors. Cosmos departed to celebrate being Herbstmeister and also goalkeeper Criss Kang’s stag party at Manhattan.
Anzacs FC lined up to play against Voodoo Child. Good run of form lately for VC and with a victory on the day the league summit was possible, if only for a few hours.
The Anzacs certainly made them work for it. The first half was a stale affair with shots from outside the box commonplace. Lots of graft but no guile.
Fortunately for VC the deadlock was broken just before half time. Tony Waygood finally making use of his unnormal height to flick on for Jesus France to dispatch for a 0-1 VC lead at halftime.
Nogood having not conceded and claimed an assist was promptly withdrawn – it could only go downhill.
A rousing team talk inspired the men and the Anzacs scored straight away in second half to make it 1-1.
But VC have some heart and Ned Kelly was unleashed as if the night before maybe something was different in him. A super hattrick and assists galore!
VC looked a bit vulnerable at set pieces however as the Anzacs scored all three goals from those. Typically, Ian Mote rolled back the years with two wonder strikes with Barrie Scrymgeour getting in on the scoring as well. The match ended 3-5 to VC with Ned Kelly picking up man of the match honors.
Goal scorers above: Barrie Scrymgeour, Ian Mote (2), Pay Mullarkey, Ned Kelly (3), Sam France and legend Thorsten Kalus. An excellent first half of the season for VC who will face Voodoo next stop.
Shanghai Vikings FC locked horns with Happy FC. The Vikings had a field day and executed a very deadly campaign leaving the opposition no chance other than save honor. First half 2-0 up, final score 5-1. Jie Zhang scored the lone HFC goal.
The Vikings displayed an enormous team effort. Mikkel Lund Pedersen, Begench Garahanov, Stefan Søgaard, Jonas Franceschina, Mikkel Rønnow Mouritsen all found the net. Man of the match: Christopher Gumppenberg.
Voodoo slugged it out versus Shanghai Tianfu FC. It was the last league game before the continental-style winter break and unseasonably warm for December.
It made the wait for the ref to kickoff the game quite pleasant rather than a complete waste of f**king time.
He made up for it once the game eventually started and got into the festive spirit dishing out more unwanted cards than that one weird lad at the office who smells of mince and Lynx Java.
Jack Webster was in fine form scoring his first goal for the club sending Voodoo up 1-0. Voodoo created several more chances to increase their lead but the half ended with a 1-0 score line.
The second half was more of the same but it was the blues who silenced the massive crowd.
Voodoo gifted the ball to Tianfu to start off a great move that finished with a goal and the equalizer at 1-1 and that’s how the match ended. Damo Pilat and Yu Zhu received man of the match honors.
Voodoo had the chances to win but the forwards, notably new boy Bertie, couldn’t finish their dinner – surely no coincidence that they were not enjoying the turkey with all the trimmings at the club Xmas party in the new-look Camel after the game.
What’s the answer to the enigma that is the Voodoo season? Let’s hope it’s to be found at the bottom of a bottle and before facing the VD-riddled VC on derby day.
Jonny White: “The way their goal came about might yet get the mismanagement trio the sack this Christmas.”
STANDINGS
Shanghai International Football League
Visit the official SIFL website to find out more.http://www.eteamz.com/SIFL/
Enjoy your Christmas break, best wishes for the New Year and see you all in 2017!
Tom Bus