FC Irelande 0–3 Metrasport

Another tough afternoon for the Greens, but also a game that gives us some important lessons to take forward.

Metrasport came with a clear game plan: use their fast forwards, rely on their physicality and exploit their midfielders’ ability to hold the ball and launch long passes behind our defensive line. They were dangerous whenever they could turn possession into a quick counter-attack.

Despite that, the Greens finally managed to show some good football with the ball. We circulated possession from left to right, moved the ball with more confidence and managed to control parts of the game. However, we struggled to turn that possession into real danger in the final third. We reached the last quarter of the pitch but lacked the precision, movement and ideas needed to create clear scoring opportunities.

Unfortunately, Metrasport scored the first time they seriously threatened our goal. 0–1 at half-time, despite our efforts to build our game.

In the second half, we tried to push forward and take more risks to get back into the match. Around the 55th minute, however, they scored their second goal. From then on, the game became even more difficult.

As we committed more players forward, Metrasport found exactly the spaces they were looking for. Whenever they recovered possession, they launched long passes towards their fast attackers, who needed only one or two passes to turn those situations into goals. Their counter-attacking game proved very effective, and they eventually added a third.

Final score: 0–3.

The result hurts, but we need to recognise the progress we made in possession. We are beginning to circulate the ball better and play with more confidence. Now comes the next challenge: learning how to turn possession into danger. We need better movement, more precise passing and more effective combinations in the final third.

Having the ball is important, but we need to make our opponents feel threatened by it.

And now, the focus shifts immediately to what comes next. We have three very important matches ahead, and we need to win. This is the moment to stick together, work hard in training and turn our progress into results.

Let’s keep the fighting spirit, learn from our mistakes and be ready for the next challenge.

MOTM: Alvaro, whom we thank very much for joining us and helping us in this game

Come on, Greens! 💚⚽️

Vets 2 went 3-0 down within the first 15 minutes: 2 defensive miscommunications, one very good goal, the result of quick intricate passing in our box. Apart from that the game was very even. We created lots of good chances , the result of clever balls. For example, a nice ball from Paddy at left back found Oscar who held the ball up, slotted a pass through the legs of the defender into the path of Joris who was charging down the wing, The keeper came out, Joris struck the ball hard to his left, keeper dived got a hand to it sending the ball across the empty goal. The onrushing green shirts just failed to connect. Rafa had a couple of long range efforts which forced good saves from the keeper. Antonino and Yacine combined well down the right, on one occasion leading to a low cross across the goal which was just out of reach of Benoit who was on a characteristic energetic raid upfield. When we finally got a goal back late in the game it came from a nice passing move, Oscar receives the ball with his back to goal, Yacine makes a clever run, Oscsr makes an angled back heel pass into his path, Yacine carries the ball forward, taking him one on one with the keeper. But he doesn’t shoot, instead he lays it off to Enzo alone at the back post. What was he doing? He had spotted the advancing Enzo out of the corner of his eye. Enzo killed the ball dead with his first touch, steadied himself and slotted it past the keeper. Lovely goal. We deserved more out of a game where we had fought hard and played good football. Once again though we showed that we never give up even when several goals behind. This sort of performance gives us hope for the rest of the season.

Match Report:

Los Thirdos started quickly against Les Fossis with Sepp setting Giulio up for a goal within the first two minutes. Giulio found himself in space outside the box and curled a shot across the face of goal and into the bottom corner. After the perfect start, the team struggled to make the most of playing downhill in the first half. We had a few good opportunities in the remainder of the half but failed to capitalise due to some loose and unlucky final passes.

Ryan went off almost immediately in the second half and his presence at set pieces was missed afterwards. One set piece for Les Fossis led to a goal line scrap where the ref failed to see it going in off one of their hands. Not long after, another set piece led to a Fossis player heading it back across goal from the back post before another player finished it. The Thirds pushed and played better football for the final 15 minutes but couldn’t break down the opposition who were an older, experienced team who knew how to grind out a win.

FT 2-1.
MOTM: Giulio

Pattatencross day in Nossegem and we were in for a rollercoaster. Fasten your seatbelts.

FCI came with an amazing 15-strong group, full of confidence, but also back against the wall: 4 points on the counter, meaning just 1 up from their opponents of the day, bastards Étincelle. All or nothing it was. Faced with the high stakes, Ireland rose up to the challenge from minute one, reproducing one of their favourite training drills on the first play of the game: nice move from the back, ball played down the left wing, Lolo found in the half space, and a back cross to Joao who nets it in with a magnificent left foot half-volley. 1-0 Ireland, game on.

But it couldn’t be that easy. Étincelle pushed, hit the crossbar, and after a clearance in the danger zone, FCI’s old demons soon resurfaced as a lone player at the edge of the box managed to send the ball home right over Maxi. 1-1. Right after that, a missed long pass from the middle allowed Étincelle to send their striker through, and place it perfectly in the top left hand corner. 1-2, Ireland stunned.

But the boys showed no sign of fear or resignation. Heads back up, they went on attacking mode again, and the equaliser came as Deo found Ewan in the box, who converted a perfect low cross-shot from a sweeping 10 meters distance away from goal. New range unlocked. 2-2. FCI thought they were back in the game. But little did they know that the infamous Captain Casino was just around the corner, cape on. A bad touch in an anodyne position, Étincelle got the ball back high, and didn’t miss their chance. 2-3. It’s HT.

And there kicked in the spirit. After all it was only one-nil, isn’t it? The boys remained calm, driven, confident. They tested Étincelle’s defence, kept getting corners, and out of a muddle Matty B managed to find Tarp, who slotted it home in a fox in the box fashion. 3-3! This time we had it. More corners, two close headers from our gambler in chief, and another cross which the keeper only managed to push in front of him. Who was there? Filippo Tarpedo. 4-3.

Still a good 20 minutes to go though. FCI trying to hold the fort, in the manner of Ivar (FCI debut!) who decided to step on his winger’s foot every single time he had the opportunity to, and things were volatile: Joao hits the post, Étincelle get their chance out of a bad pass from the back… and they miss it. Cette fois c’est la bonne. Out of an Étincelle corner, Lolo kickstarts the counter from the left of our box, sends Conor on a 40 meter run to Mars, aiming for the edge of the box… can he get there before the keeper? No. Wait. Maybe. Nah. Oh fuck he may. Wait, wait, he’s there!!! Little flick to his right a millisecond before keeper gets the touch, offering Ewan a double on a plate. 5-3, FT. Wow!!!

Amazing performance, and weddings aside, this is it: we’re on a roll. MOTM Ewan. Now off to the cas’ baby !!!!

It’s 7 pm on a Friday night, and FC Irlande Ladies III pulls into Grez-Doiceau for the third game of the season. It’s dark and rainy, and the players are tired after a long work week and a 40-minute drive. Still, the mood is good, and the facilities are among the best we’ve seen (we agree that the changing rooms have “sauna vibes”).

At 8h30 pm, FCI kicks off the tumultuous first half. The teams seem evenly matched. Nevertheless, at minute 15, Grez-Doiceau scores. Denis reminds the team not to be discouraged, and sure enough, at minute 25, Zoe, assisted by El, equalises, followed by another goal by El at minute 31, who converts a great cross by Isabel into a goal. Nevertheless, the opponent is not to be underestimated and scores shortly thereafter. FCI’s lead is finally reestablished at minute 44, by Lea, who transforms the chaos of several successive corners into a goal. 

The second half is tough. The atmosphere is heated as Grez-Doiceau gives it their all, trying to regain the lead. But FCI is strong, communicates, passes the ball forward and does not let the opponent score. Throughout the match, Ana intercepts numerous goal attempts. After 90 minutes, the game ends 3-2 for FCI.

This continues what we saw in the last match: establishing a lead in the first half and defending the lead in the second half. To celebrate, the team has beers at the buvette. By the time the happy players arrive home (thank you to the drivers!), it is way past midnight. 

Player of the match: El, followed closely by Alex and Ana, and many other strong performances.