Infamous Tea & Honey show
The third round of the Shanghai International Football League took place last weekend. Several games had to be rescheduled so in the Premier League only three games, while four were played in the First Division. Nonetheless 29 goals were scored in those seven matches.
Premier League
The match of the weekend was between the rejuvenated and red hot Shanghai Vikings versus football powerhouse the Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC. It was a match that lived up to expectations and the hundreds of spectators saw a total of 8 goals being scored. It was a close fought match where the Shooters drew first blood but the Vikings equalized for 1-1 score at half time. Then the Shooters were up 1 but Vikings evened it out again at 2-2. Then it was the Shooters turn again for a 3-2 lead. But the lead was only short lived as the Vikings put one back for 3-3. With 5 minutes left to play both teams tried to enforce the winner leaving lots of open space and the match went back and forth. In the end it was golden boy Guillaume Leclerq who netted 2 in a row for the Shooters for a 5-3 victory. He scored 4 on the day together with 5 last week netting 9 goals in 2 matches! Many teams are after Leclerq as he transfer free at the moment. Rumor has he may opt to play for Azzurri.
In other matches Japan continued its winning ways beating Beaver United 4-2, you can read a full report of that from Jean-Luc Benoit below. Rounding things off Shanghai Reunited send the Shanghai Krauts packing 5-1. Big Bamboo Shooters taking over top spot with 9 points from 3 games. Azzurri did not play on the day but have won all their games as well.
First Division
In the First Division four games were played. Division leaders DIB FC played FC Teranga. It was a close match with a 1-1 score at half time. In the second half DIB FC put it away when they scored again for a final 2-1 victory. Shanghai 3United played Long Tang and won 2-1. The match between Corea International FC and the Shanghai Cosmos remained scoreless. The Anzacs must have head their heads on the Rugby World Cup as they lost 1-2 on the day versus Shanghai 2000 FC. They probably did not care too much as New Zealand became Rugby World Champion the same weekend. Congrats boys!
DIB FC and Voodoo, who did not play last weekend due to Phil Boyle's wedding (congrats Phil!) have both won all their games so far and remain at the top of the table. Shanghai 2000 FC and Shanghai 3United have amassed 6 points from 3 games followed by FC Teranga at 4 points and Voodoo Child and Anzacs both with 3 points.
Round 4 of the Shanghai International Football League is scheduled to take place on Oct 29, 2011. Visit the official website for more details.
Beaver United vs Japan
Battle was waged on the grass pitch when two formidable opponents squared off. Team Japan took the field against the storied Beaver United franchise in their first meeting of the year. Attempting to shake off several soul-crushing defeats to the Japanese last year, the Beaver squad was looking to bounce back after a poor start to the season.
A torrid start to the game was highlighted by: several jaw-dropping misses by the Japanese; a striking of the post by Team Japan; and surely a goal-of-the-year candidate by Beaver’s evergreen right fullback, Roman Galiulin. Scoring his first ever goal throughout his illustrious football career, Galiulin latched on to a long-throw flick on, and from 30 metres away nearly bursting the net with a fine first timed strike, which forced a smile from even the most stoic of faces.
The game ebbed and flowed with several chances being traded between the two clubs when near the end of the first half, fearless Beaver captain Mathieu Liard pounced on a bouncing ball in the box, and hit the ball with such force…such technique…that the end result most certainly could only have been… a ricocheted right-footed volley hitting a Japanese defender before smashing into the corner of the net. Check youku for the slow-motion HD replay.
Heading into the half ahead 2 -0, Beaver United warned each other of not getting too careless. Perhaps they did not heed the warning. Whether it was fatigue…well, it certainly was fatigue…or the never-ending, full-bore, steely determination of the Japanese strike force, Beaver United quickly conceded 3 goals on the trot to fall behind 3-2 with mere minutes remaining.
Shortly thereafter, a quick flurry in the box at the tail end of a Beaver corner kick, found burly centre-back Henning Walstad with ball at his feet. In a moment of sheer brilliance, Walstad struck the ball across the 6- yard to the equally burly left back, Lukas Bennett, who with his sniper-esque senses pounced on the ball and valiantly passed it into the net. Celebrations, jubilations…a whistle? Yes, the goal was called offside in a moment of great controversy. One could raise the argument: How could one be offside when one is running onto a ball whilst it is bouncing in front of him on the 6 yard box? But I digress.
Immediately after, the Japanese torched down the pitch, and slotted him the dagger. 4-2! The final result was in the book.
A hard fought game, with a new rivalry forged! Well done all!
Jean-Luc Benoit
