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[SIFL News] Round 26 – Games played on 13 May 2017
Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC clinch Premier League Championship.
Shanghai Cosmos wins First Division Championship.
Shanghai Vikings FC promoted to Premier League.
Premier League
- Azzurri FC 2-3 Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC
- Shanghai Japan FC 4-1 Shanghai Lions FC
- Shanghai Krauts FC 0-6 Shanghai ReUnited
- Shanghai 3United 2-2 FC Oranje
First Division
- Shanghai Cosmos 2-1 Shanghai Vikings FC
- Kangbei United FC 2-2 Long Tang AFC
- Voodoo Child 1-2 Voodoo
Premier League
Azzurri FC faced the Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC. A win would crown the Shooters SIFL Champions so they left nothing to chance.
In their way was an Azzurri side who thought they could spoil the celebrations and a ReU side acting as Italian cheerleaders for the day. As usual a proper game ensued; lots of tackles, lots of energy and great football too.
Deeming himself unsafe to be close to anyone the grand dictator Zippy (#19) banished himself to the opposite touchline from everyone else to bark his instructions/insults in isolation. Wilson Scott hobbled off and Loic Chudy soon after him as they both sacrificed their legs for the Shooter cause in a frantic half.
Eventually the deadlock broke around the 30-minute mark. Gui ‘game changer’ Leclercq lived up to his self-given title and channeling his inner Zlatan met a Mike McGirr corner with an acrobatic volley into the far corner. The half ended 0-1 to the Shooters.
In the second half, the Shooters went out knowing they were now really close. The belief showed as they took control of the game and started a full-scale assault on the Azzurri box. Eventually the pressure told and as is becoming now usual a penalty was given for handball in the box.
Kevin Wiessler stepped up, but although blasting it well it was too close to keeper Alex Zhao, who palmed it out with a strong hand. The Azzurri got some belief back and ReU got the pom poms out.
Wiessler picked himself up though and soon after found himself one on one, having been slipped through by Stefan Sturm. This time he made no mistake and slotted home to double the Shooters lead to 0-2. The Shooters looked in firm control now and it seemed like it was all over.
However the men in blue didn’t give up and the Shooters love doing things the hard way. First a clearance on the left was smashed straight into a teammate and into the path of Guillermo Santamaria, who put it into the corner of the net for 1-2.
A fifth penalty in two games was then given (again handball in the box) and can be crowned the worst decision of the five, but Javier Turull (#21) made no mistake evening out the score at 2-2
Shooters now could have sh*t themselves and caved, but they showed the belief they have had all season and instead went all out to win the game. Two minutes from time pops up Benoit Doche (middle below) who smashed the ball into the net on what he called “an impossible angle” for 2-3.
The Shooters went mental, the Italians were defeated and Shooters were Champions! Mayhem ensued; the Shooter bus will never be the same again and the Big Bamboo is lucky to still be one piece. With his championship goal, Benoit Doche picked up man of the match honors.
After five long years the Shooters are back on top. A big compliment to ReUnited for running the Shooters close and the Azzurri for a great game. CAMPEONES, CAMPEONES, OLE, OLE, OLE! Well done boys, congratulations great team effort.
Shanghai ReUnited were pitted against the Shanghai Krauts FC. ReUnited went into the game knowing only a win would do to put some pressure on to the Shooters before their game with Azzurri.
ReUnited were comfortable throughout the ninety minutes and the pressure they put onto a shaky Krauts defense led to a complete collapse for them as ReU entered the break 5-0 up.
ReU’s debutant Denis Arych opened the scoring with a spectacular volley from twenty-five yards and from then on it was a bit of a procession.
A Mandela first half hattrick, a fine goal from Adam Kling and another long-range strike from Arych in the second half completed the scoring for a 6-0 ReUnited win.
Mandela picked up man of the match honors. Afterwards ReU settled down to watch the Azzurri and Shooters game and although the Italian team fought valiantly, it was not to be for ReU as the title race was lost to the Shooters.
Shanghai Japan FC crossed swords with the Shanghai Lions FC. Japan were determined to get a result against the champions of previous season.
Japan’s fast combination play confused the Lions a great deal while the Lions were unable to find any holes in the tight Japan defense.
Japan’s dominance resulted in the only goal of the first half sending Japan up 1-0 after 45mins of football.
In the second half, the Lions tried to do something back but Japan simply outpaced them and continued to find the net.
The Lions did get a consolation goal by David Hunter but Japan scored three more for a final 4-1 Japan win.
Tomoyuki Hirai (2) and Hiroki Kato (2) scored the goals (below with David Hunter). Yasutomo Toyofuku picked up man of the match honors.
Shanghai 3United clashed with a revamped FC Oranje squad at the early time slot. Oranje was coming off a smashing of Japan two weeks earlier, while 3United had also beaten Japan in the SIFL Cup semi-finals the weekend before.
Oranje was fired up after their first win of the season and 3United was hoping to further their win streak despite missing a few starting players. During the first half, it was Oranje who had the upper hand and within 10mns created several bankable chances.
Their offense was continually exploiting holes in the 3U defense and midfield throughout the half and resulted in the first goal of the game at around the 15-minute mark.
After a 3U free kick, the ball ended up at Berto Mose in the Oranje half. He quickly overran the midfield then launched Manual Troconis over the right flank. Troconis made the backline and crossed the ball in the box to Mose who half volleyed it in at the far post taking a 0-1 Oranje lead.
3United reacted well and 5mins later saw Joe Williams earn a penalty which Nick Law clinically saw into the left corner of the goal evening out the score at 1-1. Soon after Oranje also earned a penalty but keeper Jonny Sumner spectacularly saved their effort and even it stayed.
Oranje kept up the pressure and from a fluent attack Mubanga Vwalika played the ball to Tank Zhang (below) who set himself up for a one on one and slotted home with a low drive retaking the lead for Oranje at 1-2 and that’s how an entertaining first 45mins of football ended.
In the second half, 3United finally found some structure and teamwork and became the dominant force of the two teams. But despite having most of the possession and momentum, they struggled to create anything dangerous in front of goal.
Oranje was still pushing to solidify their lead and were awarded another penalty after a handball in the box. Keeper Sumner saved Oranje’s second effort as well at 1-2 it stayed.
It gave 3United momentum for a final push into the tight orange box. Oranje started defending with all they had subbing along the way playing the clock.
In the 88th minute 3U’s determination finally yielded. A ball won in the Oranje defense made it’s way to the midfield and reached Nick Law at the edge of the box. Law didn’t hesitate, turned the ball with his first touch and rocketed a shot into the top right corner to even the score line at 2-2.
Despite a frantic few seconds the game ended in a 2-2 tie. Oranje’s Tank Zhang (above with Berto Mose, Nick Law & Tom Bus) and 3U’s keeper Jonny Sumner picked up man of the match honors.
Oranje took to Cages to celebrate match #588, 4 points and 6 goals in the last 2 fixtures to end the season on a positive note. The boys won the Third-Half@Cages as well. Oranjeboom was there!
First Division
Shanghai Cosmos were scheduled to play the Shanghai Vikings FC. A win or tie would seal the Championship for Cosmos. However, they were very anxious about the possibility of a 27-goal swing, which would hand the title to Vikings.
A nervy start by a new look Cosmos back four, including One Direction’s Harry Handley, who Jasper had proudly proclaimed he ‘groomed’ all season. Interpret that how you please!
On 28 minutes, the breakthrough came. Ant Spark opened the scoring with a cracking right footed drive from a Conor Maye cross for 1-0, giving him a story tell his grandchildren when he sees them in the summer.
Just before halftime, Adam Stringer made it 2-0 when a great Jordan Campbell flick found Maye who crossed for Stringer to finish at the second attempt. Leaving him just a few goals short of topping the Cosmos scoring chart, currently held by his biggest fan Jordan Campbell.
In the second half, the Vikings were more determined than ever to swing the goal difference in their favor and had the better of the exchanges.
They had to wait until the final ten minutes when they were awarded a penalty to make it 2-1 via a Stefan Soegaard spot kick conversion. A nervous end was played out and the game ended 2-1. Man of the match honors went to Harry Handley
Knowing Cosmos had secured the title, stand in coach Conor Maye lead the celebrations and traditional punishment Fireball shots at Tap House.
Andy Wiles, making his season debut, didn’t do well, following shots for first appearance, full kit wanker, still wearing his shin pads at 7pm, being from Coventry. Doesn’t matter, Cosmos are champions!!!
Voodoo Child were paired to Voodoo on derby day. For the Voodoo it didn’t get off to a great start with the Minister of Transport confounded by a rogue bus driver meaning that 90% of players made it to the pitch with seconds to spare.
For VC, a win would keep them in with a slim chance of finishing in the top two and therefore going up. As such VC went into the game with many injured souls returning to action.
It was Voodoo Child who started the brighter of the sides, with their patented passing game splitting the Voodoo midfield as if it was the bill for their girlfriend experiences on the recent VC tour to Bangkok.
Chances were at a premium, as you might expect from a 1pm kickoff in the Shanghai heat and both teams lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, and it had all the excitement of a tax return until Jack ‘Nice Swan’ Webster took the game by the scruff of the neck and laid on a pass that has already gone down in club folklore.
Jonny White was on hand to tap it in after the hard work from the Wirral Pogba and Voodoo had drawn first blood taking a 0-1 lead. That put them at ease and they added another before the interval thanks to Ben ‘I don’t lose derbies’ Avery who used his boss eyes to boss effect in sending King Lear (below) the wrong way and 0-2.
The only hope for VC came with the introduction of Sam ’Jesus’ France after four months lost in the wilderness seeking inspiration while nursing an ankle injury.
The second half began much better for VC with Ned Kelly (below with new trainee for illegal outback activities) through on goal only to slice wide and another near miss for Kelly came after good work from a Jesus cut back.
The Child had the better of the second half with the man they call Jesus rising like, well, Jesus to head in getting a goal back at 1-2. Jesus: “Get lost, seek inspiration and score!”
But they could not turn their superior league position into an equalizer and 1-2 it finished before the club cemented its reputation as the only club to have an open-top bus tour for finishing in third and fourth. Voodoo’s Mike Wrynne picked up man of the match honors.
Well done to Kam for his organization and inspirational team talks throughout a highly successful season for VC. Kam: “We gave Voodoo a little lift for the cup semi game next week.”
Kangbei United FC did battle with Long Tang AFC in a Chinese derby. The game got underway with both teams making their offensive intentions clear. Chances came and went but both sides were in balance and got on the score sheet once for a 1-1 tie at halftime.
In the second half more of the same as both squads found the net once. The match ended in a 2-2 stalemate with both teams sharing the spoils.
Jiangang Sun and Nianhui Cheng scored the Kangbei goals. Guodong Jing and Jun Wu scored for Long Tang. Kangbei’s Siwei Ren and Long Tang’s Jun Wu picked up man of the match honors.
STANDINGS
Shanghai International Football League
Visit the official SIFL website to find out more.http://www.eteamz.com/SIFL/
Tom Bus
