Mucky
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Tue 20.2.07 6:03 Post subject: Ians Match Report |
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Colombo Lions 13, Pelhengoda United 0
Unlucky for some as Lions serve up goal fest.
“Can we play them every week?” asked last week’s match reporter referring to OSC. Wouldn’t life be great if all matches could be like that? Or would it be too much to ask if life could be made even simpler. Answer: No! It’s not too much to ask.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Pelhengoda United.
There were at least two major contributing factors about this game that led to such an outlandish result as witnessed by a handful of bemused local onlookers, a small herd of cows and a family from the valleys. The first, and most telling, was the youth of the opposition which, in this case, translated into inexperience. Youth is not normally a handicap for most teams who visit Beddagana but today it was a huge millstone.
The second may have been the confidence flowing through the Lions who must have been buoyed by last weeks 7-3 victory over the aforementioned OSC.
Whatever it was the Lions laid siege to their opponent’s half right from the kick off, virtually setting up camp there and taking the majority of the possession. As early as the second minute, Danny had a shot on goal but it was a limp effort. Two minutes later Mucky had a shot blocked. Within thirty seconds of that, Danny was wildly off target with two better options begging. But the constant pressure was a decent indication that The Lions would carry on as they had started.
In the seventh minute, there was a big shout for handball in the Pelhengoda area and Mr. Osman pointed immediately to the spot. Mucky’s spot kick however was aimed straight at the keeper who had little trouble in maintaining a blank score sheet.
A minute later saw Pelhengoda mount an attack of their own which was snuffed out by Cormack at the expense of a corner which was ultimately wasted, the ball going behind for a goal kick.
This one-sided affair inevitably started to notch up a few statistics in the tenth minute when Disco ran onto a finely weighted through ball which split the Pelhengoda defence before scoring at close range past the stranded keeper.
Barely four minutes later the lead was doubled. Danny received the ball in the centre circle, neatly turned his man and ran on to plant the ball confidently into the bottom corner.
It was a further five minutes before the lead was extended but it was worth the wait. Rich picked up the ball just over the halfway line, turned and began his run up the pitch. Three defenders tried to halt his progress but to no avail. Leaving all three in his wake, he placed a sublime angled shot toward the far corner which he saw bounce agonisingly off the right-hand upright. However, Mucky was on hand to finish what Rich had started with the easiest of tap-ins that my Gran could have scored. And she was rubbish at football Gawd bless ‘er.
A scant minute later Mucky made up for his easy reward by hammering a thunderous shot on goal from the edge of the area which actually took the keepers head clean off. MEDIC, GOALIE DOWN! Everyone one the pitch was more than a little surprised to see the gallant lad pick himself up to carry on though somewhat dazed.
The Lions continued to apply the pressure without mercy and it came as no surprise when Asanga made it 5-0. He deftly controlled a corner kick with one touch before volleying into the far corner. Not bad for the regular first choice goalkeeper!
Just before the half hour mark, new signing Chami scored the pick of the bunch. With the ball at his feet and as open to suggestion as anyone one the field, the Cambodian noticed the keeper off his line and promptly floated a sublime chip all of 40 yards to increase the lead to 6-0.
On thirty minutes Rich got the payoff for his significant contribution from midfield. He collected a short pass on the edge of the area from Chandu on the right wing before neatly turning his marker and rifling a powerful shot into the roof of the net.
Four minutes later Cormack made it 8-0 by collecting a square ball across the 18 yard line, taking a touch to control before placing the ball cleverly into the far corner of the Pelhengoda net.
On 36 minutes, Danny claimed his second and the Lion’s ninth by out-running two defenders and then netting from close range.
As the first half came to a close, there were some confusing substitutions made and the Lions eased off the gas which allowed Pelhengoda to mount only their second attack of the game which resulted in a corner kick. A decent delivery saw the ball cleared but only as far as on-loan Chandu but he ballooned his shot high and wide. A new ball was introduced to the game nearing half time when the ball in play disappeared into the swamp after a wild clearance.
Half time score: Lions 9 – Pelhengoda United 0
During the interval there was more feverish activity in the transfer market which resulted in Danny and another bloke to whom I’ve haven’t been formerly introduced joining Chandu on-loan to Pelhengoda for the remainder of the game. As it turned out, these were shrewd signings as the flow of goals was significantly reduced in the second period. The effectiveness of these players should be noted by the Lion’s hierarchy.
Sadly, it was too little and way too late for any other outcome than an emphatic victory for the Lions whose purpose in this half was to maintain the gentle slumber of keeper Cherdon. But his alertness and the command of the four players in front of him made sure that Pelhengoda received no joy in the goals department. It’s true that Cherdon was markedly busier in the second half though.
Pelhengoda did come close in the 72nd minute. Danny, now playing for the opposition, found himself in the “D” with a shooting opportunity. His shot beat Cherdon but, excruciatingly, hit the right-hand post and was cleared by Steve whose presence at the back was becoming more and more dominant as the game progressed ultimately earning him the M.O.M. award.
At the other end it was business as usual as both Disco and Chami added to their tally and Mucky scored twice more to earn the match ball.
Even at 13 – 0 the score line flattered the visitors as a good many chances went begging not least the missed penalty. And let’s not dwell on the goal that was disallowed and instances where the confident Lions should have finished more effectively. The woodwork took a hammering too. In short, Pelhengoda were outclassed in every area of the pitch but it would be a disservice to the back four if they missed out on the plaudits. Sure, the team scored 13 goals but, rather like a camel’s rectum in a sand storm, things couldn’t have been tighter at the back. All in all, not a bad day.
PLAYERS:
ASANGA (1)
FRENCH KEEPER?
ANDY A
STEVEN HO
BIG IAN
WEE IAN
DARTH (1)
MACCA (1)
DAZ (2)
LAUREN
CHANDU
CHAMI (2)
MUCKY (4)
DANI (2) |
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