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Match report by Iain Dodson

Almost no apologies

Thanks to Luke and Joffy for watching what was going on while I was busy writing.

03/02/2008

Kalutara Masters 4 – Colombo Lions 3

Due to the late arrival of the ref, we kicked off 25 minutes late, which gave the Lions a chance for a thorough pitch inspection. It didn’t much impress. A large, open ground, scarred by the curse of football fields in Sri Lanka – cricket! The playing surface was characterised by a bare, sandy and rock hard wicket which ran most of the length of the centre portion of the pitch, giving it the look of a temporary runway. The Lions also had bit more time than usual to go through the pre-match rituals, which involved liberal applications of sun block and a fair bit of spaying in unusual places. I even thought I saw someone putting a lip stick-like substance on!

The ref’s poor time-keeping also gave the Lions the chance of a more organised warm-up than some weeks, with some good close control work and a proper workout between the sticks for Frederik, who arrived kitted out in a sauna belt. With or without sauna belts, in the searing heat of mid-afternoon down south, some of the Lions already looked a bit weary. Perhaps they had had a bit too much morning volleyball at the hotel. Luckily the ref arrived just before they wore themselves out totally…and the real fun began.

As the game kicked off, it was the Lions who looked liveliest, with John involved in a number of early midfield exchanges. Julian, filling the left back berth, did well to contain Kalutara Masters’ right winger, turning defence into attack with a useful ball forward. Soon the Lions enjoyed the first serious attack of the match, as Liam almost sent Disco clear. The home side were soon back in Lions territory though, with Liam covering back and putting in a challenge, strong but fair in this writer’s opinion, from behind in the referee’s. The Lions’ wall stood up well to the resultant free kick.

On the 15 minute mark a large gap opened up in middle of the field. With several Lions midfielders posted missing and others racing back, the defence responded with discipline and composure, catching the Masters off-side. At the other end though Liam was soon battling hard again, receiving lots of attention from the opposition back four. Then there followed a lovely move from the Lions. It started with Seaman coming forward from right back, cutting the ball inside to John, who put it back out to Pablo. Pablo then found Seaman deep in Masters’ territory, who sent in a dangerous looking cross, which was well dealt with by the Masters’ goalkeeper. John and Liam remained in the thick of things, resulting in a Lions’ corner. Taken by Rich, a Pablo mis-kick was quickly cleared and the Masters were counterattacking. The Lions managed to soak up a sustained spell of pressure from the home team, Julian doing well again to slow things down, the ball eventually cleared by Frederik up the park.

Then the Masters produced the best move of the game so far, cutting the Lions defence in two, following a patient build up. The Lions back four stuck to the task though, mopping things up well in the end. Soon it was the Lions who had a chance at the other end. The opposition goalkeeper fumbled the ball, and then somehow managed to scramble a save following a strong Pablo shot. After a few minutes the Lions were back in the danger area again. John’s pass to Liam was drilled into the bottom right hand corner of the Masters’ goal, but controversially disallowed as off-side. No luck, Liam!

The frantic pace of the game and the hot conditions resulted in a double Lions substitution, Gilles replacing John and Adnan coming on for Disco. Pablo had another shot which was deflected onto to the Masters’ goalie, who blocked the effort without knowing much about it. With half an hour gone it was end to end stuff, Steve clearing up after some hard running to get back. The Lions’ bench were amused by the advent of the home team’s first substitute. The white-bearded No. 9 wearing what looked like white bloomers under his regulation kit! ‘Papa Smurf’, as he soon became affectionately known, was only one of a couple of home players who really lived up to the billing of ‘Masters’. As half time approached the lions back four stood up very well indeed, with our full-backs, in particular, enjoying very good games. Julian’s leisurely approach to the warm-up seemed to have paid off, and he had plenty of running in him to again contain the livewire opposition winger. Although not conceding goals, the Lions did give away a corner, which led to a good chance for the Masters’ No. 11. The striker had an acrobatic shot that was more artistic than dangerous though.

Soon the Masters’ keeper was called upon again to make another fine save. Then, drama as a dog strayed onto the pitch and forced a goal kick to be re-taken, although it did get a few pebbles thrown at it for its trouble. Talking of pebbles, the pitch’s uneven surface got the better of John. As the ball bounced high over his head he saw the funny side, even if not all his team mates were able to share the joke. As Masters took possession, the far side linesman sent Lions’ hearts fluttering, shaking his flag about, but not properly raising it, despite several Masters players being clearly off-side. This led to a shot, which Frederik somehow controlled with his undercarriage. The slightly comical end to the first half was complete with an acrobatic foul by Seaman on the Masters’ acrobatic No.11. After a tough first half the Lions were content to go in goal-less at lemons.

Half time
Kalutara Masters 0 - Colombo Lions 0


Early in the second half Gilles showed good strength on the ball in midfield, and soon Pablo took matters in hand on the Lions’ left wing. After some good close control, he sent in a lovely cross to Adnan, who buried it for the opening goal of the afternoon.

Kalutara Masters 0 - Colombo Lions 1

At the other end the Lions off-side trap held firm, before another good break by Adnan forced a solid stop from the opposition ‘keeper. Soon it was the Lions No.1 who was called into action, blocking and gathering a powerful shot. It was difficult to see what happened from where we were camped, but from Frederik’s reaction, it was clear that an opposition player had had a kick at him on the floor. For a moment it looked like things might get nasty. But perhaps the large crowd gathered on the railway station roof behind Frederik’s goal, made the big Frenchman and company think twice about pursuing things further. Anyway, play was halted and tempers calmed as the medical box made its first appearance of the afternoon.

Soon Frederick was again the focus of attention, making an unorthodox but effective clearance from well outside his area, which drew some derision from the growing home support on the station roof. At the other end, four Lions were caught off-side (surely a club record?), with Disco, Adnan, Laurent and Pablo all sniffing glory. Lions were clearly in the ascendancy by now and Pablo was soon clean through on the Masters’ goalie. The veteran No. 1 came racing out of his box, looking perhaps to have used his arms to halt Pablo’s advance. However, the ref waved play on and it was difficult to begrudge the silver-haired ‘keeper his moment of fine athleticism.

The Masters were back at the Lions in no time and Kaz, having a strong game in the heart of the Lions defence, gave too much attention to the opposition forward to the ref’s liking. A free kick was awarded on the edge of the box, but it was sent well over the bar. In the 66th minute again the Masters sent the ball forwards and Steve, uncharacteristically, misjudged his header. The ball landed at the opposition striker’s feet, giving Frederik no chance from 10 yards. Even Stephen (sorry, Steve!).

Kalutara Masters 1 - Colombo Lions 1

It didn’t take the Lions long to get back on the warpath though, Liam leading the charge up field and showing some great tenacity and work with the head to set up Disco. Disco controlled the ball well before banging in Lions number 2 of the fixture. Sweet as a nut!

Kalutara Masters 1 - Colombo Lions 2

Soon the Lions were threatening again and Disco’s enterprising short corner found Rich prowling the left wing. The skipper curled in a lovely ball, which the ‘keeper could only punch clear as far as Laurent. The young midfielder showed good composure to control the ball on his chest and then pop it neatly into the back of the net on the 75 minute mark.

Kalutara Masters 1 - Colombo Lions 3

Lions’ tails were up and it looked like the Masters were in for a proper mauling… The Lions pushed forwards, looking to kill the game off completely in the last 15 minutes. However, subsequent sorties up the park were halted in their tracks by the far side linesman. From his continual flag waving antics, it looked like he was getting some extra practice in for the following day’s Sri Lankan Independence Day celebrations. Anyway, whatever it was – patriotic fervour or just the rub of the green – something inspired the Masters to re-group and then rally.

They put the Lions back four under more real pressure, and with 10 minutes remaining Kaz was involved in some more excellent clearing up work, with Vegard, now at right back shoring things up further in defence. The Masters were certainly not prepared to lie down though. By this stage it was all paws to the pumps – Rich was now at left back and neither him nor Steve were giving an inch with successive strong clearances.

On the bench Julian and Vegard were both trying to convince us of their man of the match credentials as the clock ran down and Joffy tore into the arrack and coke – clearly enjoying the spectacle of his first Lions match. Meanwhile, the Masters launched it forwards and a couple of timely and powerful defensive headers from Steve couldn’t prevent a useful cross coming in from the Masters’ left flank. The ball made its way towards a number of orange Masters’ shirts, and amid strong appeals for off-side from Lions defenders, I’m told one of the attackers put it away.

Kalutara Masters 2 - Colombo Lions 3

As full time approached Adnan had a good chance, but again it was the home side that did the damage. A simple cross from the right was again accompanied by credible off-side shouts from the Lion’s makeshift back four. The ball fell to a Masters player who found himself all alone in the middle of the box. Unopposed, his shot was angled to Frederik’s left and into the net, as the regulation 90 minutes came to an end. What a turn around!

Kalutara Masters 3 - Colombo Lions 3

So why did the Lions off-side trap, so well-oiled in the first half, suddenly looked so rusty? Could it have been that the nearside linesman didn’t know why he was holding a flag, whereas his colleague on the other side couldn’t keep his down? Such was the number of off-sides that the nearside official failed to give, it was disappointing not to see the referee intervening. In the end, the linesman did eventually give an off-side decision which was greeted with applause by Rich and half the Lions team. So much so that this observer thought their clapping marked the end of the match and a gesture of respect to the now sizeable home support. If only…

Liam came close for the Lions, before the Masters comeback was complete in the 93rd minute. Somehow the home side managed get another ball through the Lions hard working, but by now tired defence. It all looked very off-side from where we were sitting eighty metres away, but the ball found its way into the net and the goal stood.

Kalutara Masters 4 - Colombo Lions 3

The Lions pushed hard for the equaliser, but Adnan was dispossessed by the Masters’ No. 19, who was having an excellent game at right back. Later the young defender did well to halt Liam. As we reached the 96th minute the Lions mounted a last ditch effort to level the score. Liam was again involved, this time in a clash of heads with the opposition goalie, who was having a fine match and luckily didn’t lose any more teeth in the encounter.

The referee was again showing himself to be a real stranger to time keeping. There had been treatment for Frederik, and the Masters’ goalkeeper, and for Kaz in the second half, but nothing that warranted the amount of time added on. Maybe the ref was trying to make up for arriving half an hour late, by playing an extra 16 minutes. Or maybe he was giving the Lions a bit of extra time to equalise following their many unheeded appeals for off-side earlier in the half. The Lions expected it to be a long afternoon, but this was ridiculous. As the second half reached the 1 hour and 1 minute mark, the game the 107th minute, my pen ran out.

Final Score
Kalutara Masters 4 - Colombo Lions 3

All in all, a good, close, hard fought game, played on a poor surface, but in a good spirit by both teams. Perhaps the consistency of the match officials could have been better, but that’s not to deny the home side their good win. It was great to see so many locals turn out to watch, and the Lions were honoured to receive such a warm welcome in Kalutara, which included use of first class changing room facilities and post-match refreshments.

Starting XI: Frederik, Seaman, Kaz, Steve H, Julian (M.o.M.), Laurent (1), Vegard, John, Rich (Capt.), Liam, Disco (1)

Subs: Pablo, Adnan (1), Gilles

Man of the match went to Julian for a very solid defensive display twinned with good ball distribution.

A special thanks goes to Adnan who invited all the Lions back to his family home down the road in Beruwela for a lovely post-match reception. It was a fitting end to an excellent display of commitment and team spirit from the Lions – 14 players had made the trip down for the game, with Luke, Joffy and yours truly in support. For the players who stayed down in Kalutara for the weekend, it was great to have the support of girlfriends, wives and kids. So a big thank you also to Sveta, Anya, Alison, Shannon, Gry, Liv, Marika, Zoe and Jenny!

Good effort, lads and lassies! Grrrrrr!