SIFL 2014-15 Roundup - Game Week 22

By Tom Bus

On March 28, 2015 Round 22 of the Shanghai International Football League took place. In SIFL Cup Quarters, Shanghai 3United upset Azzurri FC in 5-3 overtime thriller (below). Shanghai ReUnited beat Shanghai Vikings FC. Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC victorious over Long Tang AFC. Shanghai Puxi Lions FC dispose of Kangbei United FC. In league matches in the Premier League, Shanghai Japan FC (above) edge out FC Oranje and in the First Division, Shanghai Cosmos win versus Anzacs FC. Six fixtures netted 38 goals.

First Division Shanghai 3United faced Premier League Azzurri FC, still undefeated in 2015, in a heated quarterfinal battle. The game started out with both teams raring for a goal. After 20mins, it was Azzurri who were able to put a point up onto the board first after intercepting a pass in the backfield and netting one past the keeper for 0-1. Ten minutes later they were able to double their lead with a ball netted into the left corner across the keeper's box for a 0-2 score line after 45mins of football.

The intensity of the encounter increased in the second half. After going down two goals in the first half 3United's enthusiasm was not discouraged and lead to Mandela Ngueguim to score from a 25 yard lob shot to make it 1-2. With renewed vigor, it looked like 3United would find the equalizer but once again the Azzurri won a ball in the backfield and were able to score for 1-3. Then, 3U's tenacity grew and Nick Law rewarded them with a clinical play leading up from the defense and a scorcher of a goal for 2-3. With only 5mins to play Ngueguim dribbled the ball from the edge of the box between three defenders and sliced the equalizer into the right side of the net to tie the score at 3-3 with the game going into overtime.

The Azzurri started with the ball but 3U took the pressure to them early and earned a throw-in down the right side. Derek Yesionowski threw the ball in past heads of defenders to Romain Peythieu (below) waiting near the penalty spot, whom with a graceful back-flicked lob into the top left corner gave 3United a 4-3 lead for the first time in the game. Soon after that Orazgeldi Arslanow (below right) placed a curved blast perfectly around the wall into far right side of the net for 5-3. The Azzurri renewed their attack but were unable to create any dangerous chances allowing 3United to claim victory and advance to the semifinals of SIFL cup where they will play French Lions. Azzurri’s goals were scored by Kercio Chuang (above), Alejandro Felipe and Alessandro Sandomenico. Mandela Ngueguim (second from left below) received man of the match honors.

In the other quarters, the Shanghai Puxi Lions FC were up against Kangbei United FC. Two lions arrived just before kick off for a less than ideal start for the French but that’s common practice and the way they operate. A great free kick by Kangbei ended up in the goal taking a 0-1 Kangbei lead. It woke the French up and part of their trademark this season is that they always start to play better football after conceding first. Two great through balls form Benjamin Guerin led to goals by Matthieu Witkowski and Allan Mendel taking a 2-1 Lions lead, which was also the halftime score.

In the second half, Kangbei played some wonderful attacks, hitting the cross bar but the Lions controlled the game. The Lions scored again when Tomas Cabrera’s cross sailed in the top corner for 3-1. Then, upcoming defender Fabien Barbet got on the score sheet for 4-1. Cabrera rounded of the scoring with an easy tap-in and determined a final 5-1 score line. Lions’ Fabien Barbet (above next to green ball girl) received man of the match honors. With this victory the Lions placed themselves for the semifinals where they will face 3United.

Premier League Shanghai ReUnited locked horns with First Division Shanghai Vikings FC in their quarterfinal. The Vikings added a distinctly more Chinese flavor to their squad and were ready for battle. However, it didn’t take long for ReU to get ahead as Steve Ishemezwe went on his trademark dribble after a pass from Alex Pozhar to make it 1-0 after just five minutes. Their fast start continued when Pozhar set Ishemezwe up for his second for 2-0 a few minutes later. Just before the break more of the same when Ishemezwe completed his true hattrick from another Pozhar assist sending ReUnited up 3-0. The Vikings finally launched an offense of their own getting a goal back at 3-1 after 45mins of football.

The second half started in the same manner with ReUnited dominating and creating chances with little Viking resistance. ReU went 4-1 up just before the hour mark when Lucas Chagas Marques da Silva, Liu Yingzhe and Robert Parfait Nyonse Nyah combined for the latter to score. Ten minutes later it was 5-1 when Nyonse Nyah headed home his second of the game from a Karsten Knerr corner. ReUnited kept creating chances while the Vikings were looking for any kind of spirit but it had evaporated by then. ReU then scored the 6-1 from a Liu Yingzhe goal. New signing and ex-Viking Sebastian Andersson put a final nail in the Viking coffin sending the new joint venture collectively to Valhalla by scoring the last goal of the match for 7-1 and that’s how it ended. Steve Ishemezwe (#10 above) received man of the match honors. New recruit Shi Junfeng scored for the Vikings. With this win ReUnited are in the SIFL Cup semis where they will face the Shooters. Sebastian Andersson: “Just couldn’t handle Carlsberg any longer.”

The Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC (above) crossed swords with Long Tang AFC in their quarters. It was a lopsided encounter where the Shooters proved much too strong. They found the net four times in the first half taking a 4-1 lead going into the break. The Shooters took the food off the pedal in the second half but still managed to bag two more goals while Long Tang found the net once. Shooters won the contest 6-2 with good decent football. Silver Fox Michael McGirr scored twice while Daniele Baldo, Roland Broughton, Wilson Scott and Lachlan Nichols scored once. Zhu Weiqi and Chen Tao scored Long Tang’s goals. Shooters’ Chris Nie received man of the match honors. The Shooters will now play ReUnited in the Semis. We wish them luck. Benoit Douche: “I should play 90mins all the time will definitely score.”

In the Premier League, FC Oranje faced Shanghai Japan FC in a league match. Japan started well showing a lot of aggression to win duels and short pressing on the midfield. After about 5mins it resulted in a goal when the Japanese ran the ball through the midfield and quickly played it to Nakano (#60) who ran into the box on the right, went passed a defender and coolly slotted home taking a 0-1 Japan lead. Japan’s Dalong Xia was a constant menace for the Dutch defense and from one of the Japan attacks over the left he received the ball just inside the box on the right and shot it over the line doubling Japan’s lead to 0-2. The Orangemen did something back when Roger Jackson made a rush over the right on the outside then fired a cannon ball for 1-2.

In the second half, the men in orange played with three strikers and created several bankable chances. After about 80mins of play Jose Martinez (below left) picked up a lose ball at the edge of the box and fired a shot that flew in over the keeper evening out the score at 2-2. The Dutch then thought victory was for the taking but immediately from the ensuing kick off Japan played another fast break and delivered the ball to Nakano who this time moved into the box on the left then scored in similar fashion as his first goal retaking the lead for Japan at 2-3. An all or nothing Dutch offense did not yield as Japan held on the victory securing all three points. Japan’s Dalong Xia (#72 next to Roger Jackson second from right) received man of the match honors. In the presence of Oranjeboom the Dutch contemplated their next moves in Sasha’s and Zapata’s. They have to pick themselves up and get ready for the Phuket Sevens on April 11 2015.

In the First Division, the Anzacs FC did battle with Shanghai Cosmos. Cosmos started well in the match with an enormous will to win. They launched several attacks from which they scored twice in the first half going up 0-2 in the break. In the second half the Cosmos continued their expansion as they got another goal on the score sheet for an overall 0-3 win. Jordan Campbell, Jincheng Yang and Tom Morley scored Cosmos goals. Cosmos’ Criss Kang received man of the match honors. With this victory the Cosmos traded places with the Anzacs, climbing one spot in the standings.

SIFL Cup semifinals fixtures to be played on April 18, 2015:

1. Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC versus Shanghai ReUnited
2. Shanghai 3United versus Shanghai Puxi Lions FC

On April 11, 2015, Round 23 of the Shanghai International Football League will take place with league matches. Games to be played at the Shanghai Community & Sports Center in Waigaoqiao and at the Shanghai International Studies University in Songjiang University Town, No. 2500 North Renmin Road in Songjiang.

Visit the official SIFL website to find out more.