2007年12月10日月曜日

2-0 win to close the season

We beat Iga 2-0 to finish the season 5th in the League, dropping one rank from last season. We were hoping for the bottom team to upset the team above us, INAC, so that we could move up, but that wasn't to be. INAC won 3-1.
Iga came into the game needing a point to secure another season at the top flight, and they came to play. We talked about counter attack and how their Back 4 could be vulnerable if ball is kicked between them and the keeper. Back 4's speed is ordinary, and we proved right less then 2 minutes into the game, 1st real chance, and we were able to go up 1-0.
It's a shame for a team that tries to play positive football, they now had to find an equalizer. They attacked with purpose, and our poor defending on the flanks gave them chance to attack, but we were strong in the center of the field. however, we simply kicked the ball away and gave the ball back to them, resulting that we had to defend and play bunker style soccer and counter attack. We were supposedly to possess the ball and if there is space behind Iga's Back 4, we'll kick. Well, our Back 4, as a unit, was having a shocker. Especially our full backs (side backs) couldn't hold the ball, couldn't kick the ball, but somehow manage to defend just enough.
That is what we did all after noon. Defend just enough. Iga created opportunities, but their final passes, including crosses, failed to get through or bad control allowed us to gather the ball and put it away to safety.
We were able to double our lead 4 minutes into 2nd half from set piece. In today's soccer, you need dead ball specialist, and we are so fortunate to have one.
But even after the score, we were again under pressure and towards the end, Iga was able to create 1 on 1 with GK, but superb saving to her right sealed our successive shout-out and same score line, 2-0.
now we're have two days off and 13 days until 3rd round of All Japan Cup.
Wish us good luck.

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