pre-season Expat Cup and saw us pick up our first piece of silverware
for the season (officially, there's no trophy, but we won so I'm
going to buy us one!). We were below par in the first half and came
in at half time a goal down. An early goal in the second half from
Andy Johnston got us level and two goals in the last 10 minutes -
one from Paul Williams and another from Andy Johnston - gave us a two
goal cushion. We shipped a soft goal at the end to make the final
score 3-2 but were worthy winners.
The Vikings scored almost directly from the kick off. A ball down
the centre avoided our defenders and their striker got a decisive
touch to give the Vikings a very early lead. We didn't play well in
the first half: we looked off the pace of the game and our passing
was dreadful. We gave the ball away cheaply far too often and only
rarely put a few good moves together. Nonetheless, we did create a
couple of good chances. A free header at the back post from Bunmi
was hit so hard into the ground, it bounced up eight feet off the
floor and eventually settled in the 'keepers hands. Andy and Adam
conspired with an air shot and a miss over the bar from six yards in
the other clear chance we created. So we came in at half time at 0-1.
A good chat at half time helped us start the second half in the way
we wanted to continue. From the kick off, we passed the ball around
well in the midfield and at the back. Moved it up the right flank
and put a good ball into the box. Nothing came of it but it was our
most fluid moment of the match thus far and I think help us settle
down a bit. We continued to pass the ball better and got our
breakthrough from Andy Johnston after about 10 minutes of the second
half. Andy collected the ball outside the box and drove forward at
the defender. He faked to shoot with his left, brought it back onto
his right and buried a right foot drive past the 'keepers right hand
and into the back of the net. From this point on there really looked
like there was going to be one winner.
We had more of the ball than the Vikings but didn't get our goal.
The Vikings were always a threat on the break but fortunately our
defenders and 'keeper combined well to keep our back door shut. And
eight minutes from the end, we got the second goal our possession
deserved. We won the ball in midfield and released Adam who carried
the ball into the box. Adam went down under a heavy challenge and
the ball broke wide. A pass inside gave Bunmi the opportunity to
test the 'keeper from distance. His shot was parried into the path
of Paul Williams who steadied himself and unleashed a right foot
drive. As is Paul's tendency when shooting, his shot went straight
at the 'keeper who appeared to have stopped it. But the linesman and
referee ruled that the ball had crossed the line and we took a
deserved 2-1 lead.
If there was some controversy surrounding the first goal, there could
be none about our third and Andy's second. Andy picked up the ball
just outside the box on the left. He ran into the box, evaded a few
challenges from defenders before getting himself the half a yard of
space he needed to fashion a right foot curler which found it's way
just inside the far right post. It was goal of the day and saw us
take a 3-1 lead with just a couple of minutes left.
We let Vikings get one back with what was almost the last kick of the
game and 3-2 is how it ended. Man of the match : Andy Johnston.
This wasn't our best performance. In fact, it was probably our worst
in the four game Expat Cup tournament. Nonetheless, we stuck to our
task and turned around what would have been a very disappointing
defeat into what is a very satisfying victory. All good teams know
how to win ugly and this was us today.
For the record, our results in the Expat Cup were as follows:
Asterix Reds 5 - 0 Expat Lions
Asterix Reds 3 - 0 BM
Asterix Reds 5 - 3 Red Star
Asterix Reds 3 - 2 Vikings
I'm not happy that we've shipped five goals in the last two games and
we need to tighten our defence for the regular season. What is
pleasing is our performance in front of goal. 16 goals in 4 games is
a great return. Credit to the strikers and midfielders for making
our chances pay.
This is just a pre-season tournament and nothing to get too excited
about. Nonetheless, we've won it comfortably and we should celebrate
that. Of the top four teams in last years league table, three played
in this and we beat them all. Let's celebrate this success and take
this winning habit into the regular season which starts on the 1
November.
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