When I checked the calendar on Saturday morning and I only saw 7 signed up for the game I thought, this is gonna be a sad weekend. Then I remembered that Season 5 of the Walking Dead would air on Sunday night. So no matter what happened tonight, the weekend would be a time of celebration. Those of you who don’t like soccer, probably hate playing soccer in the rain. I however, like playing soccer in the rain, and as the downpour continued throughout the day, I was more and more encouraged that we would play the game under my field conditions so it would be a great match, regardless who attended. As the day developed I got email from a few other players confirming their attendance, bringing our roster to what I estimated would be at least 12 , maybe one or two more. By kickoff we had 11 and the rain had stopped. In fact it was dry and clear. But a nice temperature in the mid 60’s. A perfect fall soccer night.
On the other half of the field, the Fairfax Lions assembled in their Azzuri blue jerseys. Led by Rabih ( although Rabih didn’t attend) this is the Lions first season in the league, the first thing that we noticed, they looked very strong. At to that, they all warmed up together. Whenever a team warms up together it can always be intimidating. And that’s the point. They get in your head early. They show teamwork, they show organization. Since we know Rabih and that he is a great guy we knew he would put a great team together. I also heard from the league that the Fairfax Lions have been a fine addition to the league. From the looks of it they were here to play.
On our side of the pitch, I was starting to get nervous. Since Tedd was out from surgery after having a fight with a car, I immediately thought I would play our Marine in mid-field. Forest has the arguably the best fitness on our team and I knew he would work tirelessly. JV, Pete, and Sam were on-hand, and all of them have a tendency toward defense. This actually made my decisions easy. I wanted a strong defense and I’ve also wanted to return to my 2-sweeper system I invented last year. So placing Sam and Pete in the back as dual sweepers, I place three stoppers in front of them with Mauricio on the right, JV in the center, and Greg on the left. Honestly, those five could have played the game alone and repelled the best many teams had to offer, but they were not alone. With the remaining five I could fashion an offensive threat. With Forrest in the middle, I place Wil the Dave N up top, with Alfredo and Mooch, running the halfback flanks. Later Fabian would show, with his broken shoulder, and assistance on the attack. And did he assist us. Fabian would score three goals tonight...but I get ahead of myself. Here is how the action unfolded.
The Lions attacked relentlessly for the first 20 minutes of the game were back on our heels but the 5 man defense never let them get a good chance on goal. But during that time we had several runs forward which threatened and proved we could do it when the opportunity presented. I made sure the offense knew that with only five of us attacking we had to stay tight an attack as a unit. If one of the attack drifted off, the attack would be isolated and out manned. We need all five together which meant we all had to run and the far side halfback had to move to the side of the field were were playing on, leaving his position open. It was, however, up to the outside full-back to step forward into that position to stop the ball if the Lions switched the attack. It worked again and again. Add to our credit, we drew first blood. Off a corner kick from Wil there was scramble in the box and Alfredo was able to poke the ball in to open the scoring.
Then we went to sleep. We were getting tired and we were getting sloppy. We turned the ball over in a 15 minute period no less than ten times. Tempers were flaring...mostly mine...and I was yelling at us to keep our heads and not turn the ball over. I of course was also guilty of turning the ball over. The Lions took advantage of us punished us for the mistakes. They scored three goals...and it was beginning to look like they found their form and a way through our defense. I was convinced, however, that the system was working, we were simply giving the ball away too cheaply. We still had our moments and we able to get forward and we forced a number of corner kicks. Wil delivered another kick from the left side and the ball came across the box to Fabian. He kept his head down, connected with the ball, and what should have be a goal came out off the post. Fabian, didn’t give up, he ran forward, collected his own rebound and shot again. This time he stretched the back of the net. At the half the score was 2 to 3. We had a fighting chance.
I kept our system of play alive and had a talk with the offense to stop quibbling, start passing, and run run run. And get the ball to Forest because he is a tank and can run through their defense. True to form Forest was a fitness animal, running end to end, breaking us plays, and continuously demonstrating how to step in, get a foot on the ball, and apply continuous play. Stand up your player, so one of your teammates can make the steal. We’ve been lacking a player that relentlessly steps in ever since Ben left us to play in Atlanta. Forest would clearly be a candidate for man of the match...but once again I get ahead of myself.
Because we were still able to get forward and to press into their box early in the second half, the Lions took down one of our players in the box. It looked like a Lion taking down a wildebeest on the Serengeti. The ref didn’t see the same infraction, but it didn’t matter, he awarded a PK for a handball in the box. Wil stepped up and didn’t miss. With his V. Percy jersey on we wouldn’t expect anything less. We were tied at 3 apiece.
With our defense working well, we were able to continue to press forward. We had several series where we passed and ran through their defense but came away without a goal. The pressure on them was apparent, however, and they knew they were in danger. A break came and Mooch found himself just outside the box and wondering what to do with it. The ball was in the air and he heard members of his team calling to play it back. If he was going to get his foot on it the only thing he felt he would be able to do is to play it back forward over his head...not an ill advised play, since we were in their half, but certainly not a high percentage play. He looped the ball forward and it carried over the defensive line. Fabian, ran up the left flank and the ball dropped over the defense and into his path. He opened his body and shot the ball low and on the ground, across the keeper, to the far post. The Orangemen had scored number 4 and were now in front.
With 15 minutes remaining it the game there was still plenty of time for the Lions to equalize. It was time to play it safe. I pulled Wil back to half-back and he wanted to win as much as anyone, and preserving our lead was in his vocabulary so he stepped back to shore up the midfield. So we had Sam and Pete sweeping. Maurico, JV, and Greg stopping in front of them. Alfredo, Forest, Mooch, and Wil playing four across in front of them, and Fabian the lone striker. That’s a solid defensive posture and we held. With five minutes remaining, JV stepped forward to take a long throw in, which he seemingly could place in the box from midfield. The ball came screaming in, Fabian got his head on it, and the Lions Keeper made a horrible error and spun with the ball as it entered his grip. Without his body behind the ball, the ball slipped through his grip and into the goal As soft hat-trick for Fabian but a hat-trick none the less, and some breathing room for the Orangemen to finish out this game with a victory.
The last four minutes were not without excitement, as the Lions valiantly tried to score again. And they did so in the last minute making the Orangemen very very nervous. Final score held though and the Orangemen had their first victory in their very first match over the Fairfax Lions. Final score, 5 to 4. After the game, man of the match honors were discussed and to a man, Forest was voted man-of the-match for his tireless efforts running end to end...from defense all the way up to run the attack. However, it’s almost impossible for me to award man-of-the match when we have a hat-trick at the game. Fabian humbly conceded that Forest was man-of the match, and I would concede given his third goal was soft, and a goalkeeper error. However, Fabian is also playing with a broken shoulder. So for this match, I have no choice but to split man-of the match honors between Forest and Fabian. Great game last night Orange...we are starting to believe again!!
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