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[Mucky]

Colombo Lions 6, Korean XI 2
By Ian C:

With apologies if I’ve spelt your name wrong, invented you, missed you out altogether or fictionalised events.

This week, I’m indebted to Keke who used my Dictaphone (he could have used his finger like a normal person) whilst I helped to keep out the invading hordes.

Complete b*ll*cks! No help at all!

16/06/2007

More goals and fewer injuries as Lions end season on a high.

Those with mid-term memories may remember the last outing against this week’s opposition. It was a crunching affair in which injuries abounded and the victory was gained by a much narrower margin. The walking wounded outnumbered the goals scored on that day but the important thing was we won 2-1.

This time however, there were a number of new faces in the Korean side and three or four of them showed a fair amount of class on the ball but their undoing was their lack of teamwork.

This lack of communication first reared its head just before kick-off when a sharp-eyed Pablo noticed that they were fielding a team of twelve players. Nothing new there then! But today’s official, it has to be said, played a blinder. A further delay resulted when the Korean keeper had difficulty in understanding the ref’s directive that he should change his shirt from that of the red of his team-mates to something that would distinguish him as a goal keeper.

Details, details!

The conditions were as perfect as you could hope for with a total covering of cloud which wasn’t threatening rain but was keeping the temperature down and with the scene set, the game got off to a very satisfactory start.

It was clear from the off that the Lions intended to take the game to the Koreans in a last hurrah to the season but no-one really expected the early goal and the dominance that followed.

There was cause for celebration as early as the second minute when Mucky buried the opener from a cross floated in by Rich after he’d won the ball on the edge of their area as the Koreans were bringing the ball out of their own defence.

1-0

The Lion’s defence barely caught a whiff of a Korean attack and more Lion’s pressure was rewarded with a corner in the fifth minute after some penalty area pinball enhancing the home side’s confidence.

Another good move through the middle was started three minutes later by Rich who fed the ball forward to John but his progress was halted by a lack of support. But, with his back to goal, Laurent came to the rescue with some great running and positional sense. He was able to advance the move but his cross was charged down and the ball went out for a corner. Great persistence by the Lions.

The resulting corner was pinpoint perfection by Rich who picked out target-man John who didn’t even leave the ground to nod in number two. No-one could have envisaged such a dream start but Korea were rattled and were asking to be exploited further.

2-0

Two minutes later Rich was at it again, floating in a delightful cross directly onto Mucky’s head but perhaps the cross was too good because the header was wide when it looked easier to score.

Danny made up for a goal missed in the same minute when a teasing ball over the top fell at his feet and he coolly lobbed the advancing keeper.

3-0

There was a bit of disappointment that the opposition weren’t putting up the kind of fight that they did the last time out. No-one likes a pushover but they didn’t seem to have any cohesion.

Their initial attempts were easily dealt with but there was a spark about them that gave the impression that they weren’t quite out of ideas yet. Their forays into the Lions half became more frequent but were of the route-one variety and in the absence of lightning-quick strikers, Asanga cleaned up all day with the help of some good covering play by the back four.

At the other end, the Lion’s attempts on goal were many and varied. In the 15th minute John tried a speculative shot from distance which was well wide but it suggested that the ridiculous was possible.

Talking about ridiculous, in the 18th minute Mucky’s familiar cry of “suck it in” resounded for the first time. Will someone please tell what this means?

A minute later there was a glitch in the programme when a hopeful ball forward was trundled into the Lion’s net out of nowhere. To be fair, Asanga hadn’t had much to do up until now but it seemed a soft goal to give away.

3-1

The goal seemed to have put a bit of fire into Korean bellies and they began to probe with a purpose. They also hung onto the ball a bit more and with stroked it around with confidence. A minute after the goal they put a great move together down the right-hand side which led to a shooting opportunity but Asanga collected an easy ball.

Soon after, a Korean free kick on the corner of the Lion’s area was narrowly wide.

The first bit of controversy came on 20 minutes when Danny went shoulder to shoulder with a Korean defender and, despite being fouled came out on top. But as he bore down on the Korean goal, the foul was given when playing the advantage would have been more sensible. Danny let loose a shot out of anger and the ball went high and wide but eventually came back for the free kick. Rich scooped one in and there was some good work from Steve A. on the edge of the area but all his endeavour resulted in nothing more than a corner.

Justice was done when another precise corner was knocked into the centre of the Korean area. Kaz (what was he doing up there?) knocked the ball down for Danny to control with one touch before hammering it home. Poor defending! Great goal!

4-1

The was no sign of Korean heads dropping as they put together another good move down the right which worked its way across the 18 yard line and culminated in a shot which was on target but, again, easily collected by Asanga.

Daz decided to mix things up a bit in the 25th minute by bringing John and Ian D. off and replacing them with Cormack and Donaldinho respectively.

A minute later, things got a bit tasty when Danny wrapped himself rather too enthusiastically around a Korean defender resulting in a free kick. The following move resulted in yet another shot on the Lion’s goal which was pushed around the left-hand upright at full stretch by Asanga.

On 29 minutes Danny continued his own personal feud by starring as aggressor in the ongoing drama but the rest of the half was played out without any notable incident.

Half time: 4-1

The Koreans kicked-off the second half but quickly gave away possession. Daz and Jules combined well to quickly win the first corner of the half.

Three minutes into the second half Adnan added to the score line but in the absence of any detail from Keke, the finer points have vanished forever. I’m guessing but he may have headed in a corner from Pablo.

5-1

After the fifth goal went in, the Lion’s defence suddenly found themselves busier as the Korean forwards became much more adventurous. Donaldinho was having none of it though and commanded the back line with authority.

In the 71st minute Asanga was called into action again to palm away a ball that was on its way into the bottom left-hand Corner. The resulting corner was collected easily though.

Fun and games in the 73rd minute when Mucky tried to head the ball clear of the keeper’s grasp incurring a referee’s whistle and a keeper’s clenched fist.

The Lions increased their lead to 6-1 when Pablo squeezed a shot in at the Korean near post after an impressive solo run down the left. Just as well I remembered that because that minor detail wasn’t mentioned on tape. Well done Keke!

6-1

A very good move down the Korean left by their star winger led to an uncharacteristic shirt pull by Steve H. He escaped a yellow card but started a bizarre chain of events. The free kick was taken short but the receiving forward’s progress was halted by Iain D. Both players ended up on the deck and Steve H. went to mop up but was hindered by the same tactics he’d employed not a minute previous. This blatant foul went unpunished because the whistle had already gone for Iain’s challenge and a penalty was awarded to Korea. Less than pleased, Steve H. leathered the ball into the swamp. The law says two yellow cards make a red but defensive rock Steve H. got away without so much as a lecture.

The penalty kick was struck well into the top left-hand corner giving Asanga no chance.

6-2

After the scoring had finished, the game became a real battle Royale with both teams going Hell for leather and the challenges were flying in. Iain D. was unceremoniously upended during a 50/50 ball and Mucky came off worse in a one-on-one with their keeper from which Rich scored a tap in but the whistle had already gone.

In the dying minutes, their tricky left winger cleverly made space for himself but shot into the side netting with two better options waiting in the box.

Another fantastic all-round display to tell our grand-children about and a notable one from Donaldinho who received the M.o.M. award for a solid tour of duty at the back and the best vocal display I’ve heard since the Three Tenors had a fight.


Starting XI: Asanga, Laurent, Steve H, Kaz, Iain D, Jules, Rich (Capt.), John (1), Steve A, Mucky (1), Danny (2)

Subs: Sylvain, Pablo (1), Seaman, Daz, Cormack, Iain C, Kadi, Adnan (1), Chandu, Donaldinho (MoM)

[Mucky]

"looked easier to score"!!!!!!!!!!!
MMMMMMMMMMMMM :(
Not that easy mate :oops:
Great report aside from that comment :P

[RedOrDed]

Hey Mr Melly,
Next time you can stick your Dick-Ta-Phone up your ass :shock: :lol: . And don't mention my name, use the the tag I'm know by or my nick name.

[Leftback]

That's what those tags/names are for.

Anyone wants to change username?