Ragtag Rebels - Mikkers

3-3. Finally: we won the league.

It was a hard game. As we knew Mikkers is a very powerful team in attack and we really had to pay attention at defense. They had the possession of the ball but we were pretty serious at defense.

They started scoring with a “kind of” an own goal. We don’t follow a guy in a 1-2 combination and later his shot is saved by Gianluca but bounces in the leg of one of our defenders and comes in. Again we started losing a game. However we didn’t lose focus and after a while Digo equalizes with a great shot. Then we make the 2-1 from Carlos (one vs one with the keeper, I think) and start dominating a bit. Unfortunately soon we make a dangerous pass from our area to the middle of the pitch, lost ball, everybody out of place and they make the 2-2.

About finishing the first half Gareth does an individual action and when some (me) were about to complain (because he didn’t pass it). He shoots somehow and the keeper feels generous and gives us the 3-2.

Then the break comes and we are tired but they look even more than us.

In the second half the game was very tense but still clean though; no rough tackles or complains. In the middle of the second half, a fast action from them: the guy turns around and shoots, the ball comes among some legs and Gianluca cannot grab it, 3-3. Then we defended a bit better following the best striker and after some actions of both teams the game was over.

US: Good game although it took us a long time to understand how to stop the strikers. Again we did our most common mistakes in defense. 1) Front line did not follow their pair and 2) losing the ball in our field. We didn’t do it often but those things caused us the first 2 goals.

THEM: The most dangerous attack we have faced this year. You give them an easy chance and it’s a goal.

They have two key players, both short and dark hair. One is a bit chunky and bald that moves and keeps the ball really well. The other one has glasses and is very fast and skillful, a permanent danger (also he speaks Spanish, ;)).

Luckily for us, their defense is way worse than their attack. They rarely follow their pair and let us several one vs one with the keeper; however we wasted most of them.

The keeper is not bad although he gave us the last goal.

Goals: Digo, Carlos, Gareth

Linesman: Jelmer and Stefan.

Mikkers - Ragtag Rebels

4-1. We committed suicide.

The game started nicely, everybody focus and following his guy. A bit static in attack but better than the previous match. However, after 10 min or so, our last defender waits too much, misses the ball in our field, striker one vs one with Gianluca (whom almost saved it) and goal.

Then we kept on going and they waited in defense a bit more, we then had some chances but no luck until we reached the second half. Starting the second half our last guy tries to progress with the ball fighting with the striker, looses the ball, one vs one... and 2-0.

At this point we had total control because they were really waiting for us but we didn't move the ball quickly enough. When we were trying to do so, our second last guy unluckly gives a long pass to a clear opponent, whom shoots from far forcing Gianluca to block it out of the area. Penalty, 3-0.

Then we kept a very nice attitude, pressing more and still going for the game but today was not our day. In a not very dangerous ball from them, there is a rebound and the ball goes straight to the striker's foot, whom puts it in the top right corner, bad luck and 4-0.

After that, big pressure from us that gave us the only goal (David).

US: Today we were a little more active than the game against HTC and we controlled the game much more, which could be because they waited for us. Overall that is good considering that Mikkers looks stronger than HTC. However we made 3 fatal actions that cost the game. Today we had chances but not so many like in previous matches. Also we were desperate at some point in time (even shooting straight from the kick off!), that caused some frictions among us that we should avoid. But nothing that a beer cannot fix.

THEM: One of the strongest team in the league, no question about that. They score very easily, every chance they got today was a goal. Mikkers defends well, close to the keeper and with a lot of people. They wait for our mistake and then run like crazy. The keeper (old guy) is quite good although not accurate in long passes which help us in the pressing.

Against this team we have 2 choices. Either do what they do, so wait in our field which reduces the danger of having spaces in our back or (my preference) we press them big time when they start the move. Since they defend very close to the keeper with the whole team, if they loose the ball we can almost shoot right away. Besides they don’t send the striker away so there is less danger of long passes at our back.

For the next game we need to move more, move the ball quicker and occupy the field in a smarter way. Today we learned that this is second division, mistakes here are more expensive, let's use it as a lesson.

Goals: David

Linesman: Stefan and Fernando