By Tom Bus
Round 23 of the Shanghai International Football League took place on April 11, 2015. In the Premier League, Azzurri FC victorious over Long Tang AFC. Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC edge out Shanghai Japan FC. In the First Division, 10-men Shanghai United beat Anzacs FC. Shanghai Cosmos win versus Shanghai 3United. Controversy in Kangbei United’s win versus Voodoo. In 5 matches 21 goals were scored.
In the Premier League, Long Tang AFC faced the Azzurri FC. It was a relatively easy game for the men in blue. Long Tang played an Italian catenaccio and parked their bus in the goal defending with the whole team except one lone parachutist that was dropped between the Azzurri’s two center backs. Azzurri went for ball possession and kept the ball for the majority of the game. Long Tang’s tactic was to play on the counter but they lacked spark and were easily disposed of by the Azzurri defense. Azzurri’s first goal was a nice combination that ended with Roderic ‘Eto’ Fanseau kicking it in for 0-1. The second goal was a beautiful dribble and a lob ball with the left foot from Francisco ‘Patxi’ Mira that went over the keeper for 0-2.
SIFL Legend Ivan ‘Rambo’ Aliaga made a reappearance in the Italian squad. Aliaga looked like a war veteran who went through both world wars, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan singlehandedly eliminating all opposition. With his ankles taped, knee braces, scars and bullet holes nobody gave a dime for the old timer as he went in just before halftime. But he did do damage immediately scoring Azzurri’s third goal for a 0-3 score until the break. In the second half, Dusan Vujovic scored his first goal for Azzurri via a header from a corner for 0-4. Rambo scored Azzurri’s fifth and determined a final score line of 0-5. With two goals Ivan Rambo outscored his younger teammates by 100%. Adam Kluger’s solid performance earned him man of the match honors. Rambo: “When I get motivated no one can stop me.”
The Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC locked horns with Shanghai Japan FC. Japan came motivated to the teeth and from the start they penetrated over the left and sent a cross into the penalty box where striker Tomoyuki Hirai headed it home taking a 0-1 Japan lead after just 15 seconds. Japan kept up good form and got very close to their second goal, but the Shooters gradually took away the pace of the game with their typical long-ball-behind-defense play. Twenty five minutes into the game Kevin Wiessler scored a powerful diving header from McGirr's perfect cross evening out the score at 1-1. Right after that, Wiessler dribbled into the attacking area and sent a lovely through ball to Rodolfo Kamke who scored the 2-1.
In the second half, the Shooters kept the initiative while Japan tried to equalize via their new striker Yosuke Tachi. However, the next goal again fell to Shooters when Wilson Scott worked the ball into the net for 3-1. With 15mins remaining, Japan’s striker Hirai picked up the ball from a defensive error and easily made it 3-2 scoring his second of the day. Japan tried one last time to equalize but the Shooters held on to their narrow win. Shooters’ Kevin Wiessler received man of the match honors.
In the First Division, the Anzacs FC did battle with Shanghai United. It wasn't a classic performance but grit and determination gave 10-man United a hard fought 2-3 victory against Anzacs. United, with captain Nick Muzyczka away sunning himself in Thailand and a flaky squad not turning up, United had to play the entire game with just ten men and were on the back foot from the off before taking the lead against the run of play. A free-kick on the right side of the box was whipped in by Leslie Campbell and deflected into the net for a 0-1 United lead. In the second half, United were still defending resolutely, but the Anzacs started to threaten more, and eventually made a breakthrough when Reda El Gachem chased the ball down in the area, and managed to get a touch to Rick Howard for him to prod home and tie the score at 1-1.
United were more in control after that and after hitting the post with a free-kick, re-took the lead through another set piece. A free-kick from the left side of the box was headed home by Daniyar Dumanuly (above) for 1-2. This caused more desperate attacking from the Anzacs. Just when they thought they were running out of time, they were awarded a free kick on halfway. Jonny Warburton played it into the area and Ian Mote ‘rose like a salmon’ to flick a header past the keeper for a last minute equalizer at 2-2. Then, at the death, United got another chance when they punted a long ball forward and suddenly Andrey Kravchenko was through on goal without a defender in sight then coolly slotted the ball away for what was the winning goal and a 2-3 United victory. United’s Evgeny Priimak received man of the match honors. Leslie Campbell: “Let this last second win be inspirational for Scotland.”
Shanghai Cosmos crossed swords with Shanghai 3United. Another stellar Jordan Campbell performance saw the Cosmos got the better of 3United. In a hard fought first half 3United were able to hold off and thwart any Cosmos attack but in the second half the finesse and speed of Cosmonaut Campbell proved too much. With two strikes Campbell put away the game and sealed victory for the Cosmos bagging all three points. Campbell’s strikes were enough to earn him man of the match honors.
Kangbei United FC faced Voodoo. The Voodoo squad faced a lot of problems with a new female referee that they found off par. Nonetheless Kangbei put in a fighting performance and went up 1-0 going into the break. The referee’s awkward decisions did not go unnoticed at either squad with Kangbei players laughing the whole game. Things got worse for the Voodoo in the second half as Kangbei scored two more goals. Voodoo got a goal back from a Kyle Hayes strike. When all the dust had settled it was Kangbei United 3, Voodoo 1. Kangbei’s goals were scored by: Xiao Rong Wu, Zhou Yuan Yang and Sheng Wang. Zhou Yuan Yang received man of the match honors. Brian Doyle: “The female referee was quite simply the most biased referee we have ever come across. It was an utterly futile exercise and she had no clue was she was doing”.
SIFL Clubs on Tour. Three SIFL teams went to Thailand to play in tournaments there. FC Oranje and Kangbei United FC (above) participated in the Andaman International Phuket 7s on April 11 2015. A total 12 teams played for glory. Kangbei ended up 5th while FC Oranje ended on the podium as 3rd place finisher. Enough reason for the men in orange to celebrate bronze with plenty of Oranjeboom at Zapata’s. The Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC (below) joined the Bangkok 7s & 11s on April 4 & 5 2015. The team in the 11s tourney finished on the podium as third. Well done boys, good luck next year try go up few notches!
On April 18, 2015, Round 24 of the Shanghai International Football League will take place with Semifinals of the SIFL Cup, Plate cup fixtures and a First Division league match.
Semifinals SIFL Cup:
- Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC vs Shanghai ReUnited
- Shanghai 3United vs Shanghai Puxi Lions FC
SIFL Plate:
- Shanghai 3United vs Shanghai United
- Voodoo Child vs Shanghai Vikings FC
First Division league match: Kangbei United FC vs Shanghai Krauts FC.
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.
0 User Comments