By Tom Bus
On March 1 2014, league games were on the menu in the Shanghai International Football League. Shanghai ReUnited upset Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC. Rooky scored hattrick for the Lions. In top First Division fixture Long Tang edged out Voodoo. Eight goals in Shanghai 3United versus Shining HFC. In 10 fixtures 43 goals were scored.
DIB FC and the Azzurri FC would take center stage again in what always promises to be a heated affair. DIB expanded on their pre-match yell (above) while Azzurri were determined to make amends for last week's unlucky loss to the French. They got off to the best possible start when Adam Kluger stole the ball deep in DIB territory and dished it out for Tito Ferrari to finish with a well placed shot for 0-1. Chances were squandered at both ends until DIB striker Xiao Yan tapped home from a free kick over the Azzurri goalie to make in 1-1 heading into halftime.
Yellow cards were plentiful as the match picked up intensity. Then, after already receiving a yellow for simulation in the Azzurri box, DIB striker Didier Njewel went down yet again and converted the ensuing spot kick to give DIB the 2-1 lead. The blues went on to pin back DIB, who were content with executing their match strategy (above) with the one goal advantage. Deep into the second half, Marco Michelazzo was fouled in the box for Dennis Erenstein to finish the penalty for a hard fought 2-2 score line sharing the spoils. Erenstein received man of the match honors for Azzurri while Njewel received these honors for DIB.
The Shanghai Puxi Lions FC were pitted against FC Oranje. FC Oranje had several fresh sign-ups and so did the Lions. It was a day a Dutch rooky made the difference. The men in Orange held the Lions for the first 25mins and even created several chances themselves. A play over the left by Joey Bansberg almost yielded at the near post but Daniel de Regt’s effort lacked power. A picked up ball on the middle paved they way for Dutch mercenary fresh of the boat Erwin van de Broeck to break the deadlock when he picked up the ball beating the offside trap and coolly placed it in the net for 1-0. About 10mins after that, he doubled the score as he beat the Dutch defense once again for a 2-0 Lions lead at halftime. In the 2nd half the Orangemen ploughed on but most of the play took place in the Oranje half. They pretty much held out all French efforts but did not manage to stop new Dutch wonder boy Van de Broeck who, from an Azzeddine assist, completed his hattrick and determined a final score of 3-0 to the Lions. Van de Broeck (Left below with Evgeny Koltsov) received man of the match honors.
On a rain-soaked pitch, the Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC took on Shanghai ReUnited in a scruffy encounter. Trying to avoid the standing water, both teams were unable to play 'pretty' football and it was ReUnited who broke the deadlock after the Shooters failed to capitalize on their opportunities behind their opponent's defense. Mandela drilled his shot home after a mix up between two defenders. It stayed that way until halftime despite the Shooters hitting the post and being unfortunate with the rebound. The 2nd half began in a similar way to the 1st with ReUnited relying on their pace upfront for counter attacking football. The scores were nearly leveled when the Shooters again hit the post and had strong shouts for a penalty. Mandela scored his second for ReUnited as he tapped in from close range doubling ReUnited’s lead to 0-2. The two goal cushion all but ended Shooters' hopes of a revival. Another counterattack saw Harry Salkinow score ReUnited's third as the game petered out at 0-3. ReUnited’s Mandela was voted man of the match. The Shooters will now prepare themselves for a couple of cup runs as they have two quarter finals to play this month.
The Shanghai Krauts FC faced Shanghai Japan FC. The Japanese advanced quite fast and caught the Kraut defense napping. After about eight shots on target they broke the deadlock for 0-1. Soon after that Japan doubled their lead to 2-0 and after 45mins both teams went to tea with a 0-3 halftime score. Then, the infamous Kraut Dictator showed up to make sure the next 45mins were not going to be lost. It motivated the German defense and sent their midfield into overdrive. With such leadership they blitzed the Japanese through the midfield and got on the score sheet to win the 2nd half 1-0. Overall Japan were declared winners by 1-3 and three important points in the bag. Japan’s Tomoyuki netted two while Goto got the other goal. Kraut honor was saved by Stanislav Korchazhinkskii for a second week in a row. Japan’s Yasutomo received man of the match honors.
Shentong Metro FC were up against Shanghai United. United took a while to get going on a wet pitch and that would cost them dearly as the match progressed. With ten minutes gone, United gave away a soft penalty which was in-turn saved by United goalkeeper Igor Tsudin. A short time later, with 15mins on the clock, having being booked only a few minutes earlier a late tackle/slip saw Misha Bobylev pick up a second yellow and off he trudged, leaving United to play the majority of the match with ten men. Although not dominated by the greater numbers, United fell behind to a move involving some slick passing and finished the half 1-0 down.
The wind now with Metro, 10-man United pressed Metro right from the off and after a good spell of possession, a clever through ball was latched onto by Andrey Kravchenko who coolly rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the net for 1-1. The even score lasted a whole ten minutes as slack marking in the box let a weak header slip into the net for 2-1 to Metro. With 15mins remaining United went for bust, leaving three at the back to push for the equalizer but two quick counter attacks saw Metro scoring twice bringing the score to 4-1. To rub salt into the wounds with barely a minute left on the clock a free-kick on the edge of the box was neatly dispatched over the wall and into the bottom corner. Final result: Shentong Metro FC 5, Shanghai United 1. According to the match report Metro’s goals were scored by ZhiKai S. Louis (2), Jacky Yong (2) and Steven Jie (1). Metro’s Xiang Zhang received man of the match honors.
First Division
In the First Division the Anzacs forfeited their fixture versus the Shanghai Sauerkrauts who were awarded a 0-5 victory by default. Goals were attributed to the hardworking German Dictator, who promptly received man of the match honors that made him a happy dictator.
Kangbei United FC took on the Shanghai Cosmos on a pitch dotted with deep puddles from the previous days' rain. The corner flag, once the batter's mound for the baseball diamond, did not exactly make corners easy. However, from the off the Cosmos took the game to Kangbei, and within one minute of from the kick off,
Jordan Campbell intercepted a pass then rounded the keeper and coolly slotted home for 0-1. (SIFL record for fastest goal scored stands at 5 seconds. It was a score from kick off and the 2nd touch of the ball made it sail in over the keeper.) The Cosmos game went on and within 20mins they had build out their lead courtesy of a fine near post headed goal by Matthew ‘The Pinnacle’ Short (left) for 0-2 and a one on one from Campbell (right below) scoring his second of the day to make it 0-3. Kangbei kept playing and got a goal back to make it 1-3 which was also the halftime score.
In the 2nd half the Cosmos felt calm and confident but as time went on the beleaguered squad started getting cards, yellow after yellow it stunned their expansion as the frost set in. Campbell got two yellows in short succession and received his marching orders. Kangbei, suddenly aware a result was on the cards, increased pressure on the Cosmos defense and that yielded in another goal to bring the score to 2-3. In the last moments of the match Kangbei gave it a final push with some impressive football but the Cosmos defense held out and on to record a 2-3 victory. Kangbei’s goals were scored by Xiao Pan and Zhou Yuan Yang. Cosmos’ Tom Morley was voted man of the match. (son of Bob)
Shanghai 3United were up against Shining HFC. Shining displayed a fine form on the day and neatly danced around the 3United defense. That yielded two goals in the 1st half to send Shining up 0-2 at halftime. In the 2nd half 3United managed to get on to the score sheet twice themselves as well but Shining netted four more for an overall 2-6 win. 3United’s goals were scored by Alvaro Corbetta and Henrik Storm (above right). For Shining Fei Fei netted two, as did Yang Weijun while Dong Chen and She Weihua got one goal each (above left). Fei Fei (below) was voted man of the match.
The First Division top of the table clash was between Voodoo and Long Tang AFC in driving rain with surface water and ducks in several areas of the pitch. Voodoo and Long Tang’s liking for possession football went up in smoke in such conditions as it turned out to be a game of midfield battle. Chances were hard to come by in the 1st half with both teams enjoying spells of possession when rain dashed out the smoke. Long Tang were reduced to several long range efforts but without danger. The 2nd half opened up more as both sets of players started to tire in the difficult conditions. First blood went to Voodoo when Gino Dilibero picked the ball up, took it 10 yards then smashed it over the keeper from 25 yards for 1-0. The joy was set to be short lived as Long Tang regrouped and started to push harder. They dominated for most of the remaining time and scored two goals in five minutes taking the lead at 1-2. Voodoo pushed hard for the equalizer, forcing a number of corners but it would not come and Long Tang held on to a 1-2 victory. Long Tang’s Zhu Weiqi received man of the match honors.
Voodoo Child locked horns with the Shanghai Vikings FC. With Nathan and John Viking still out on the pillaging campaign the squad started with ten men. It was enough to dominate possession and balance the game into Viking favor. When Allan went to Walhalla during battle on the midfield the signs looked bleak for the Vikings. Neither team had many chances but eventually Viking Kancha crossed a great high ball directly to Air-Jordan Peter to head home for the 1-0. It stayed that way until halftime. Legend Viking John P had now shown up and saw to it the troupes conquered Britannia once again. After a few more chances, the Vikings waited until the last minute when Nathan, who finally showed up still fresh from the campaign trail, slotted home to make it Vikings 2 Voodoo Child 0. It was a good fighting Viking victory in dominant style that secured three points to move back into the promotion zone.
In the Premier League the Shanghai Puxi Lions FC are at #1 spot with 28 points and 5 points clear of DIB who are 2nd spot with 23 points trailed by the Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC on 3rd with 21 points and Shanghai ReUnited on 4th with 18 points. Azzurri FC are on 5th spot with 14 points followed by Shanghai Japan FC on 6th with 13 points, FC Oranje on 7th with 12 points and Shentong Metro FC on 8th with 11 points. Shanghai United are on 9th spot with 5 points. The Shanghai Krauts FC are Lords of the Basement with 5 points, 25 goals south and counting.
In the First Division Long Tang AFC are on top spot with 25 points followed by Shanghai Vikings FC on 2nd spot with 21 points followed by Voodoo on 3rd with 19 points and Shanghai 3United on 4th with 18 points. The Shanghai Cosmos are on 5th spot with 16 points followed by Shining HFC on 6th with 14 points and Shanghai Sauerkrauts on 7th with 13 points. Kangbei United FC and the Anzacs FC are on 8th and 9th with 5 points each. Voodoo Child are closing ranks with 3 points.
Round 15 of the Shanghai International Football League will take place on March 8, 2014, with league matches at the Rugby Club in Waigaoqiao and Tianma Golf & Country Club in Songjiang. Visit the official website to find out more.
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