FC Irlande Men 4

As things start to come an anticlimactic close, 4ths took on Ettekijs at Nossegem for the penultimate match of the season.

The scoreline speaks for itself. A lot of endeavour and passion from 4ths with a slight domination in general play but unfortunately a game of few chances with perhaps Fabi coming closest with a shot cleared off the line. Not the most exciting of Abssa matches.

Final score 0-0

MotM Matteo

On a sunny Saturday in Brussels, FCI4 headed into the suburb of WSP to take on St George’s 1.

Despite entering the club spirit and helping a few other teams with players, we entered the fray with high spirits and a strong team.

FCI4 generally dominated the early exchanges although struggled a little to make the final incision. We then were victims of our own downfall. A back pass to the stand in GK Max unfortunately somehow resulted in an own goal after a small mis-kick.

The guys did not let this get them down and they continued to press, play and encourage each other but it wasn’t quite falling for them in the box.

We made a couple of changes during the 2nd half to freshen things up and dominated even further. This eventually led to a free kick on the left side of the box about 10mins from the end. Fabian, carrying a knock, then stepped up and sent the ball towards goal and despite the GK’s efforts the ball just crept in under the bar. 1-1!!!

We could feel the confidence surging and continued pushing. Then with 3mins to go, that little Colombian magician received the ball just inside the opposition half, in the centre circle, turned and saw something. He sent the ball soaring and managed to lob the GK on the line to put us 2-1 ahead!!!!!!

We thankfully managed to hold the remaining moments with ease to get back to winning ways after some indifferent form lately.

Motm Fabi

4ths were playing a team directly behind them in the table today. With the end of the season approaching and a few players missing due to holidays & helping other squads, an experimental formation was tried.

Unfortunately the day not go as planned/hoped. Some uncertainty with the new formation combined with some individual errors resulted in 4ths going two goals down within 25mins.

At half time, three subs were made as well as formation change (as well as some stern words). This resulted in improvements in the overall performance and it was felt progress could be made. Then the sucker punch, a counter attack by Arquois resulting in a 3rd goal.

The team still stool at it and tried to play and we were on top for the rest of the match with a few chances created including hitting the woodwork. Approx 10mins before the end, Fabi was fed down the right side of the box and his low pass across was met by Peppe to get a goal back. 4ths continued to push and had a couple of opportunities but it was just not falling for us

Final score 1-3

Motm – Nick

4ths had a tough game against the champion of our division.

Final score 2-0. Motm Matteo.

Back at Nosseghem for the 4ths motivated to stay in the fight for the 2nd position.
We knew we were facing a fit and physically tough opponent today. Clinical but without excellent players. And the 1st half was exactly what we knew, and feared.
3 defensive mistakes and it was 3 goals for the opponent.
1 bad clearance, 1 missed header and a high ball in counter. 4ths could only make 1-3 at HT thanks to Cosimo after a good fight and cross from Diego.

4ths were not going to give up and wanted to stay unbeaten at Nosseghem.
We had the ball and played much better in the 2nd half but arrived 5 mins before the end with still a gap of 2 goals to fill as the ref disallowed 2 clearly legal goals during this 2nd half.

Miracle happend. Kevin assisted Fabi for the 2-3. And with 2 mins to go, Benoit who entered as striker (😅😅) assisted Lorenzo for the 3-3!

It’s 1 point for the 4ths, still unbeaten at home and in the fight for the top2.

It could have been more with a ref who knew the offside rule and it could have been worste as the opponent touched the post just before the final whistle.

FT 3-3,

motm Lorenzo.

After a difficult start of 2024, 4ths faced Copains Reunis with the objective of starting a new winning streak.
We started the game being very serious and focused and made ourselves the game easy with 3 goals scored in 20 minutes by Draga (2) and Fabi.
Their only excellent player scored a very beautiful goal to give them a bit of hope.
Hope that Draga killed straight after with his hattrick to make it 4-1 at HT.
4ths then managed to keep the ball for most of the 2nd half, staying calm and confident.
Got a couple of clear chances through long balls in the back of their very high defense.
But we scored the 5th goal with a long range shot from Carlo close to the end.
5-1 win. Good for our confidence and maintains our 2nd position in the table.
Motm captain Roman.

4th welcomed Maccabi for the highlight game of Division 3D (second against third). Eager to make up for their weak performance from last week, the Boys in Green started the game motivated. It was a level game against a strong opponent who managed to play nice football on a difficult pitch during the first half. Good chances on both sides until Tiago put 4ths 1:0 up with a great finish from the edge of the box.
The second half started with a set back after Gianluca got a stupid red card. Despite being one man down, the lads fought and defended very well, not allowing clear chances to Maccabi.
In the last minute of the game, Maccabi got their last corner and managed to equalise after Christian was clearly fouled inside of his 6 yard box.
With a few seconds left, 4ths brought the ball up one last time, when Tiago was fouled inside of the box. Unfortunately we missed the penalty and the game was over. 1 – 1.
We stay unbeaten at home and keep Maccabi behind us.
MotM Tiago and Fabi

4ths faced the bottom of the table, Bouks FC, in La Hulpe. Despite a few missing and injured players, the Boys in Green were optimistic to bring the three points home, too optimistic as Bouks fought well and held the game level by half time.
4ths started better in the second half, but became increasingly nervous after we missed several one vs one’s and even a penalty.
5 minutes before the end, Bouks managed to score with their first real chance.
Disappointing performance all around.

4ths were back at home today after dropping 2 points last weekend.

3-2 win, motm Kevin for his first game as CB.

4ths faced New Inn 2 for a difficult first game after the winter break.
With several guys being away, injured, or sick, 4ths had a slow start into the game. New Inn dominated the first half, creating several chances, only to be stopped by Matteo and Joonas with an amazing goal like clearance.
The Boys in Green got better in second half. Dominant in midfield, but sloppy in front of the goal. In the end, we were lucky to bring the point home, as Matteo and Joonas kept the clean sheet with goal line clearances in the very last minute.
MotM Joonas

On a wet cold windy Saturday in mid December, 4ths made their final trip of 2023 to Nossegem to face Copains Reunis.

The boys were determined to achieve their highest ever Xmas points total and continue the push for the top position.

We started well and created a few opportunities which culminated in a free kick just outside the 18yd box. Nick measured it well and put it in the top corner.

The game then became more even but Matteo kept the ball put despite hard hits from the opponents. The late in the half, after some good pressure, the ball fell to Draga in the box and he did the business. HT 2-0

The second half started with 4ths slightly on top but Unfortunately Copains got the first breakthrough with a goal from the edge of the box. 4th immediately regained their 2 goal lead through a break away by Draga. This killed a bit the spirit of Copains and the goals followed with a penalty from Gianluca, a very well placed strike from a break by Gianluca. 4ths final goal was a Carlo shot from edge of the box. Copains did manage to get a consolation in the final couple of minutes unfortunately but it did not take any gloss of a great result.

Final score 6-2

MotM Carlo

4ths traveled to the country side for an early kick off again New Arquois 2. Upon arriving it became clear why the opponent won the majority of their points at home: a waterlogged pitch with a massive slope.
Going downhill in the first half, 4ths were able to score from their first chance. Fabi’s well placed shot from the edge of the box found the back of the net.
Despite the lead, we were not able to control the game. The home team was simply better prepared to play under these difficult circumstances and managed to equalise after a corner.
Second half, up the hill, the boys in green tried to push towards the goal, but we were not able to create clear chances, while Matteo kept us in the game with some amazing saves.
Full time 1:1.
Man of the match: Matteo

4ths hosted Colo Colo for the clash of Titans in Division 3D. The first half started difficult, against the wind and uphill. The boys in green kept a tight defensive line and didn’t allow any chances aside the occasional long range shot into the arms of Matteo.
Playing with the wind in the second half, the 4ths got more dominant and pushed Colo Colo in, only to concede from a counter. 1:0 for Colo Colo.
But as so often this season, the 4ths fought back. Fabi sent Tiago who remained cool in fro of the goal and equalised. Our continuous efforts were rewarded just some minutes later when Fabi assisted for Maks, who chipped the goalie to score his first goal for FC Irlande. After 10 more minutes of great defensive work, 4ths could claim their 6ths win in a row. Now being joint top of the league.
Men of Match: Tiago and Maks

Back at nosseghem today after 3 wins away, the 4ths started the game very strong.
Tiago scored the opener after 2 mins after dribbling the keeper. The opponent then became more and more dangerous and got the equalizer in a counter after a free-kick in our favour. 1-1 HT. The game looked like a fair draw but Fabi disagreed and as imitation to Tiago dribbled his opponent, passed the keeper and put it in.
Last 5 mins were just defending to keep the 3 points and get a 5th win in a row.
2-1, motm Fabi

4ths win in a row for the 4ths today.
Everything was done in the 1st half. We scored first with an amazing shot from Lorenzo for his 1st goal in green.
Opposition equalized on their only shot on target with 10 mins left in the first half.
Greens didn’t give up and reacted a couple of minutes after with the 2nd goal in 2 games from Gianluca after a Fabi assist.
2-1 HT with a good performance of our guys.
2nd half wasn’t great, we mainly stayed solid, smart and well positioned to keep the 3 points.
Not an amazing game but a great team spirit and 3 points. Thats all that matters.
1-2 win. Motm Lorenzo

4ths faced a copycat Irish team called Celtic Roosters out in Wavre on a rainy Saturday afternoon. We started strong and went ahead after 5 minutes when Nick’s long range free kick got longer and longer and finally went in. Serious in defense, we continued to control the game and could double the lead, again Nick with a free kick.
The Roosters pushed in the beginning of the second half, but kept calm and closed the game with two counters. Tiago, Gianluca in his first game, and Fabi found the back of the net.
Great team performance all around and the third win with a clean sheet in a row.
5-0 final score.
Nick MotM

4ths had an away game in anderlecht against the top of the league. And we showed up on the pitch delivering our best performance of the season.

Nothing fancy today but very well organized, smart and solid.

We reached the HT with a 0-0 and we took our opportunities to take the 3 points.

Tiago with a header, Peppe after a free kick and Nico in a solo goal put the game to bed.

3-0, first win away for the 4ths.

After another loss away last week, 4ths had to bounce back at home this week. Same story since the beginning of the season.
4ths started very strong and were dominant from the 1st minute of the game. Lot opportunities in the first 15 mins with a post, a 1vs1 missed and a cleat penalty forgotten by the ref.
As always Tiago scored the opened after an assist from Fabi.
And Cosimo put the 2-0 just before HT for his first goal in green.
2nd half was the same, 4ths dominated the game and ref forgot a crazy clear penalty.
Anyway, we added 2 more goal by Fabi and Cosimo and managed to get our first cleansheet of the season.
Positive day for the 4ths, 3rd victory at home.
Let’s now try to get a victory away next weekend.
Motm Joonas

4ths travelled to Wallonia to take on Chenois SC 2.
Two fairly evenly matched teams traded early blows but neither team could assert any real dominance. The breakthrough came eventually came for Chenois from a corner, with an unfortunate FCI CB glancing the ball into his own net. Half time 1-0.
The 2nd half started brighter for 4ths with more of the ball and pressure slowly increasing on Chenois. But the ball would just not go in and they were not helped the odd questionable blindness from the official.
A couple of injuries threatened to derail the FCI progress and then
Chenois then managed to get a breakaway goal advancing down the Irish right before finding a pass to an unmarked attacker in the box. 2-0 to Chenois and that basically was game over.
We will pull ourselves together and go again next week 💪🏻💚
MotM Fabi & Tiago

4ths needed to bounce back at home today after last week’s loss.
We started the game very well with probably our best 20 mins of the season and got awarded a penalty after a foul on Cosimo. Tiago took it for the 1-0. That was the score at HT.
The opponent equalized just after the HT and it was a very even game until the last 15 mins.
Good fight on the left side, we got the ball from the opponent after a nice pressing. Karim dribbled the keeper and put it in for the 2-1. His first goal for the 4ths, a very important one. It became then easier and Carlo on a long range shot and Tiago in a counter added 2 more goals for the 4-1.
4-2 final score after the opponent score a last minute header.
Good team reaction!!

MotM Tiago

1st real (😬) season loss for the 4ths today.
We changed our formation due to the absences of almost all our offensive players and it didn’t work.
Opposition dominated the beginning of the game and took the lead quite early.
They were solid but not really impressive.
Just more efficient than us as we had 1 goal refused for offside and 3 face to face missed.
They scored the 2nd goal with a direct free kick in the 2nd half.
It was a close game, similar as last weekend vs Saint-Georges.
This time they were more efficient than us.
Wake up call to bounce back in a week at nosseghem.
Motm Diego

4ths played their first home season game against a good saint-georges team who finished 2nd in D3 last season.
Game was really even for the 1sts 25 minutes and close to the half time we, as last week, decided to be a nice host and give the opponent a goal after a bad pass in our defense.
We didn’t put our head down and started attacking more.
Just before HT we got a corner shot by Manu. GK saved a header and the ball bounced on the goal line. Tiago was there to tap it in and make the 1-1.
2nd half was better for us, we dominated the game and got the reward with 10 mins to go with Peppe dribbling on the right wing, and went on a 1 vs 1 with the keeper. Keeper touched the ball and deflected just enough to not pass the goal line. Again, Tiago was there to push it in.
The last 5 mins were just defending. Not beautiful but…who cares?
Great team and fighting spirit today.
2-1 win.

MotM – Tiago