SIFL 2014-15 Roundup - Game Week 27

.By Tom Bus

On May 16 2015, round 27 of the Shanghai International Football League took place. In the Premier League, the Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC beat Shanghai Japan FC. Shanghai Puxi Lions thump FC Oranje. Shanghai ReUnited edge out Long Tang AFC. In the First Division, Shanghai 3United trounce Shanghai Krauts FC. Shanghai Cosmos beat Voodoo Child. Voodoo book narrow win versus Anzacs FC. Hstone HFC (above) and Kangbei United FC (below) both record 2-1 wins versus Shanghai United and Shanghai Vikings FC respectively. In eight fixtures 37 goals were scored

In the Premier League, FC Oranje were scheduled to play top dogs Shanghai Puxi Lions FC. It was a beautiful sunny day in Waigaoqiao and pollution free. The lions showed up with a motivated squad ready to step it up after their good performance the week before clinching the Hebiguchi Cup. The Dutch squad had several no shows including their fixed keeper and knew it was going to be a tough day at the office. In the first 20mins the Lions started slow and were sloppy in the final passes and finishing despite several chances. Oranje were able to keep them at bay but step-by-step the Lions upped the tempo and came closer and closer to the orange box.

After good pressing and quick ball recuperation in the midfield the Lions finally managed to get one past stand-in keeper Jelmer Sanders via Romain Haution at the back post who slotted home from close range taking a 0-1 Lions lead. Pretty much all Dutch resistance was gone by then encouraging the Lions to play faster and faster while the Dutch got swamped, then imploded in the last 15mins of the half allowing Lions keeper Radouane Guissi two assist for four more goals. Azzeddine Takouloufa scored twice and Tomas Cabrera and Daniel Isaacs (right below) once for a 0-5 Lions lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Lions substituted players and the pace of the game went down. The Dutch were down to 10 men plus the aging master and still had a rough time adapting to the slowing French pace. With quick counterattack the Lions added three more goals after which the match slowed down to a snails pace.

The Dutch had half a chance when Marijn ten Wolde almost scored from a clutch in the box but no more scores were noted and the Lions won the contest 0-8. Man of the match Tomas Cabrera (#14 above) scored a hattrick on his birthday. The men in Orange went on to Zapatas as holders of various new records and other worthwhile statistics (above middle). Oranjeboom was there too (below) as was Max Schuppert (left) who will be playing his last match for the FC Oranje coming weekend.

Shanghai ReUnited locked horns with Long Tang AFC. In order to keep up the pressure on league leaders Lions it was important for ReUnited to win this contest versus the last of the Premier League. But they were taken aback with a strong Long Tang performance in the first half. Despite ReUnited’s dominance Long Tang were able to get on the score sheet first via a Zhou Binxu strike and after 45mins of football Long Tang were leading the match 0-1. 

In the second half, ReUnited pushed for goal and created several bankable chances but the finishing touch was missing. With about 15mins to play Joseph Mandela Ngueguim (left below next to Zhou Binxu) stepped up and first scored the equalizer for 1-1 and a few minutes later he scored his second of the day handing ReUnited the lead in the match for the first time. After that no more goals were scored and the match petered out with ReUnited as winners. It came as great relieve for the ReU management as they are in hot pursuit of their first league title and with the May 27 fixture versus the Lions, excitement at the season’s finale is guaranteed. ReUnited’s Steve Ishemezwe (above left) received man of the match honors.

The Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC negotiated Shanghai Japan FC. The Shooters are in a tight race with Azzurri for a podium finish and were keen to get a result. They did well in the first half going up 2-0. In the second half, they scored two more goals as did Japan for a final 4-2 score line.

With this victory the Shooters moved to third spot in the standings on goal difference. Kevin Wiessler (right below) scored two while Wilson Scott (left) and Benoit Doche (middle) got the other Shooters goals. Tomoyuki Hirai (#9) and Yasuaki Nakagawa (#26) scored for Japan. Shooters’ Loic Chudy received man of the match honors. Captain Roland Broughton: “I don’t care what you call it, a podium finish means bronze and that’s silverware!”

In the First Division, newly crowned champions Shanghai Krauts FC had an off day in their battle with Shanghai 3United. The Krauts were still in their celebratory state as they did not put up much resistance whereas 3United give it all they had as they as they are still in the race for second spot and Premier League promotion. 3U were at it from the start putting the German defense under pressure scoring twice for a 0-2 lead at halftime. In the second half they waltzed all over the Krauts netting five more for an overall 0-7 victory. Nicholas Law scored a hattrick and while Pierre Marconnet, Julian Wolff, Joe Williams and Alvaro Roca Benitez scored one each. 3U’s Alejandro Verni was voted man of the match.

Hstone HFC did battle with Shanghai United. Flowing football from an on-the-ball Happy FC stacked up against some determined but ungainly play from Shanghai United in the late kick off at Waigaoqiao. Passing in triangles and moving the ball well across the pitch Happy tested United's backline throughout the game, with only a lack of clinical finishing keeping the score respectable. United's best move of the first half resulted in an own goal that couldn't really have been avoided for a 1-1 score at halftime.

Hstone HFC managed to score another one in the second half, were the stronger team and came out worthy winners with a 2-1 score line. HFC’s goals were scored by Weijun Yang (right) and man of the match Dong ‘always score’ Chen (left). With this victory Hstone HFC cemented their grip on second spot and with two games in hand they are firmly on course for Premier League promotion. United’s Leslie Campbell (above tackling Dong Chen): “United can win the ‘Nicky Watson Cup’ later this year. A new annual challenge between the football clubs of Sasha’s/Zapata’s and the Tipsy Fiddler.”

Voodoo Child were pitted against the Shanghai Cosmos. A very forgettable game for the VC saw them lose comfortably to the Cosmos and only a man of the match performance from VC Keeper 'suicidal Col' kept the score to a more reasonable level. A very disappointing result and performance given the recent revival in results and application. VC did have a good 20 minute spell in the first half having gone down 1-0 and could have had more than one goal but a lethal strike from Cosmos’ Jordan Campbell broke VC’s hearts and it was pretty much one way traffic from there. The lone VC goal was scored by Paul Waller for a 1-1 score at halftime.

In VC’s defense, turning up with only one sub in that Saturday heat was not the best preparation they could have made and new mascot ‘Paddington Bear' did little to inspire the team. What kind of idiot would want to be a football manager when there are some good fish waiting to be caught. Cosmos scored three more goals in the second half (+own goal) and the match finished 1-5 to Cosmos. Jordan Campbell scored a hattrick and received man of the match honors. Tom Morley got the other Cosmos goal.

Kangbei United FC locked horns with the Shanghai Vikings FC. The Vikings were second place contenders for much of the season but a recent slump saw them drop to mid table. Kangbei took advantage of the Vikings malaise and got one past the keeper for a 1-0 Kangbei lead at halftime. Kangbei continued with scoring in the second half inclusive of a goal in their own net for a final 2-1 score line after 90 minutes of football. Below Kangbei’s scorers: Liming Wang and Xiaolong Wu with keeper Hao Zhu. Kangbei’s Zhouyuan Yang received man of the match honors.

The Anzacs FC did battle with Voodoo. Voodoo had an unfamiliar line-up due to eight regulars being unavailable for the match. Consequently, Voodoo’s great record against the Anzacs was going to be severely under threat this time around. Anzacs dominated possession in the first half and were causing a lot of problems down the right hand side. Despite this, they created little but were awarded a penalty after 20mins. A contentious decision and Voodoo felt that justice was done when Nikau Irvine dived to his right to make the save and FX followed up to clear the danger. Tempers started to fray for the remainder of the half and the Anzacs right back was lucky to stay on the field after a crazy five minute spell when he fouled any Voodoo player within touching distance. The first half ended with a 0-0 score line.

In the second half, Voodoo used their one substitute to tighten up the left side and this limited the Anzacs offense significantly. As the Anzacs grew increasingly frustrated at their lack of cutting edge, FX and Kyle came into the game more and more. Sean King broke out of central defense and eventually found himself in the left wing position. He then played a great cross to FX who had a shot on goal. The GK parried but the ball broke kindly to Sam Woollard who accepted the gift and smashed the ball home from close range for a 0-1 Voodoo lead. This breakaway goal prompted a change in tactics from Voodoo and the emphasis was on defending this lead for the last 30 minutes. The Voodoo defense kept the Anzacs to a number of long range shots and defended heroically at corners. Bryan Doyle: “We rode or luck at points but we stuck the game plan and fought our way to three points.” Voodoo’s Sean King received man of the match honors. The refereeing trio (above) had a great day.

On May 23, 2015, Round 28 of the Shanghai International Football League will take place with league games. Games to be played at the Shanghai Community & Sports Center in Waigaoqiao and at Songjiang Sports Center in Songjiang.

Visit the official SIFL website to find out more. 

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