FC Irlande Men 2

An overcast sky in Nossegem, little wind, though a clear day set the seen for FC Irlande’s match against 8th placed Charles-Quint. Coined the 6 point match, the boys in green were eager to put a W in the win column. Mid way through the first half, Ewan tees up a shot, though a resounding ping reverberates through the pitch. Hope is not lost, an attentive Lolo, jumps on the ball and slots it away for a 1-0 lead to the good. The half time whistle sounds. The Irish attack the second half with vigor. Perhaps too much vigor. Ryan targets his victim, at a full sprint, Ryan leaves his feet and two foots the oncoming winger in the chest, if Ryan’s studs to the chest were not enough, Ryan grabs his nuts and points at the attacker writhing in the pain. The official has no choice to give him his second yellow. In classic Ryan fashion, he throws up the double bird to the referee as he exits the pitch. (Perhaps an over dramatization, though a pulling of the arm of the running winger as he attempted to get by did give Ryan his second yellow and a red). Up a goal and down a man, the boys kept fighting. The ball came forward, with a some clever body work by Gab, he was able to hold off the goal keeper, played an excellent ball into the box, where Lolo was able to pick up a brace. Though the best highlight was yet to come. Late into the second half, the Irish were on the attack, Lolo found himself on the wing, plays a cross into the box, the searching ball, is found by Gab. In what could be his final curtain call at home, Gab leaps off the ground, foot over his head, makes contact with the ball. Silence falls, across the pitch as the ball searches for the back of the net. The silence is broken by the ping of the post, denying a potential Puskas bid. The final whistle blows and the FC Irlande take a resounding win. As the great Jameis Winston once said, we eatin dubs!

For anyone following the 2nds WhatsApp, you’ll know that Les Gars were heroically misinformed about the kick-off location. Still, in true 2nds fashion, we rallied — impeccably organised, as if heading out for some impromptu techno at C12 — and made it across town with the full Simpson crew intact.

On the pitch where we usually face ENTENTE, we now found ourselves up against SCHEUT. The match kicked off at full tilt, both sides trading early chances. FCI had the better of them. Their keeper was on fire (and possibly traumatised) after Lolo unleashed a rocket from three metres that nearly sent him into orbit. Justice was served soon after: a penalty, calmly slotted home by Lolo — cool, clinical, inevitable.

HT: 0–1 (and SCHEUT arguing with themselves like a married couple on holiday).

The second half began with SCHEUT throwing on everything forward, while FCI collectively decided defending was a vibe best experienced from a distance. Their big number 9 — built like a fridge and twice as effective in the air — nodded one home, then another at the back post. Before long, a third goal arrived to complete the comeback.

Amid the gloom, there was at least comic relief: Matt Sims made his grand entrance, lasting a glorious ten minutes before receiving a straight red for a “last-man challenge”. Efficient use of minutes, some might say.

FY: 3–1

MOTM: Jouke “Going Dutch” Bosma

The seconds travelled to Brussels British looking to bounce back from recent bad results. The first half saw the British with the majority of possession though they didn’t do much with it. Unfortunately, close to half time they got a goal which was offside but the ref gave it. The first half highlight was the substitution of Jamie who came off after 15 minutes.
Second half fc Irelande played better and had more of the ball. Two goals on the break / error for the British pretty much killed the game. At 3-0 down we played our best football… lesson to learn = play that football from kick off instead of when we are chasing a goal..
Motm Ryan.
Big thanks to Ricky and Tiago for helping ❤️

The greens became the blues today. In a cloudy day above our castle, we started the match without the required intensity. The opposite team was really fit and great with a ball and we couldn’t really hold it enough between our players. Following grate saves from Maxime and Papi they were able to score a goal from a quick counter attack after 1-2 on our right side. The halftime found our team tired and without a clear head. After a good talk at halftime, we went into the second half knowing what we have to do bring ourselves up and score a goal. We were able to keep the ball more, pass between ourselves and make some nice attacks but without any result. One crossbar from Pablo and one from Lolo at the last minute of the game where the closest we got to an Equalizer. Shitty result despite the effort. 0-1 FT
MOTM Papasito

A frustrating day for the boys in green. After the usual sloppy start and what could have been a shit early goal for Union JP out of a corner, FCI went on full control mode: high possession, strong pressing, good circulation. Over and above JP during the whole first half, with a few chances that actually came from the press rather than the build-up. Pablo gave it a try a got kicked hard (welcome to ABSSA amigo), Ewan and Benji also gave it go. Not enough to score, 0-0 HT. Heads down, keeping up the work, but the elements had to help out inoffensive Union: a strong inwards wind pulled a corner straight into our top right hand corner. 1-0, hard to take. But the greens showed great spirit, kept pushing, and were soon rewarded with the 1-1: short corner from Nick to Pablo, great cross in, the keeper throws a punch at a neck instead of the ball, and foxy Jamie is there at the bounce to slot it home. The last 20 minutes were more even, both teams pushing hard, but clearly FCI had the chances to get the win. A great ball from Papi down the right for a 3 vs 1 face-off was mistakenly given offside, with Nick missing the target just to make sure the ref sleeps well tonight. Benji also had two great chances close to the final whistle, with one great save from the Union keeper and one where a low cross may have done us better. Nothing serious for Union thanks to rock solid Matt B and Papi down the back. Cherry on top: outrageous tactical handball on the buzzer by naughty boy Matteo to prevent a JP counter. FT 1-1, deserved better, and lots of positives for next week. MOTM: bankrupt Ewan.

The 2nds were facing Los Franginos today in Nossegem, and the game started with high intensity but mostly from the other side. Struggling to put their foot on the ball, the boys in green quickly conceded a goal from their fast strikers who managed to face Ahmet in a couple of passes. Just few minutes later Lolo equalised with one of his secret long shots from out of the box (some say it was slightly deflected). Without any control of the ball, Ireland mostly counted on counter attacks or uncoordinated high pressure which actually paid off when the keeper under pressure gave the ball straight to Benji who had the perfect shot from 30m to beat him.
That’s when their number 9 show started. Their striker, a guy with the body and presence of Sean Gibson and the technic and speed of Joao. First with a solo raid, unopposed he entered the box and shot to crucify Ahmet, then 2min later he was the quickest for the rebound after a free kick on target.
At half time not much had to be said except to reflect on our overall performance. Only few minutes in the second half, that number 9 cyborg had the perfect curled ball from 18m with his wrong foot, straight in the top bin. That left everybody baffled, making it 2-4. It was only a matter of minutes before they got awarded a debatable penalty to get their 5th goal.
The Ireland team only started to play some sort of football in the last minutes after Victor as striker and Joao as 10 came in. Not enough to score any goal.
And not a lot to remember from this day, except a humbling lesson and the willingness to show some pride next weekend.
MOTM: Benji

Tourinnois forfeited the match

The 2nd team gars suffered their first defeat of the season, at the hands of a typically pesky Entente.
An early shower between the sticks was not part of the game plan and left it all to do for the home side. Maxi came flying off his line as he would a Morzine piste and was a touch unfortunate to bring down the Entente striker bearing down on goal. John played the sacrificial lamb as Karim nobly stepped up to go in net – Max’s parents had seen enough and also decided to call it a day.
A double salvo quickly followed for the visitors amid some pretty suspect marking in the FCI box. The 10 men welcomed the half-time whistle, going in 0-2 down.
With rallying cries ringing in the ears, the lads showed great character and put in a spirited 2nd-half performance.
João was full of tricks and dangerous throughout, fuelling hopes of a comeback with a tidy finish into the bottom corner after being put through by first-teamer Papi (thanks for helping us today 🙏🏻)
But alas, the comeback wasn’t to be. As the lads threw everything and everyone forward in search of an equaliser, Entente broke and rolled the ball into an empty net in the final minute, with the goal fondly dedicted to Hadri by the Entente player.
1-3 final score, but plenty of positives to take away. MotM João (goal a game)

Game 2…picture a sunny day in Belgium (yes, in BELGIUM), in the asshole of the Brabant …
After some tactical locker talking (including Jamie’s, whose translation in English still awaits), some welcome logistical and energy push from Matt S. with his lovely daughter, the boys in green entered the pitch …
Neil, Nick and Lolo decided on a strong line up
Max in goal, the Gen Z Matteo and Andreas in center backs, the Dinosaurs Maréchal Clem and myself on the sides, an “English” center midfield (sorry Ewan) made of Neil, Nick and Ewan, last week’s MOTM Benji on the right and “quelle indignité” Booba on the left (subbing for MAGA Nate who unfortunately got injured during warm up), and finally Lolo 🕰️ up front … Our very own dictator from Ghana Georgie being ready to step up (while awaiting a phone call about the outcome of the putsch he masterminded in Ghana)…also Boomer Gineste came to cheer us up (on his way to Amsterdam), as well as Big Daddy Gabba escaping his mom-to-be supporting duties …
Let it be clear : this was not our greatest performance …we were much more on a reacting mode rather than leading the pitch, with waves of attacks on their end crashing on pour strong defense over and over again ! The lads trying to push the ball up but too often rushing and losing the ball before the opponent’s box….
In any case, the FCI boys kept the energy, the discipline amd the composure …0-0 half time …
The second half being pretty much the same (as Gabba said it:”we have not done 3 passes in a row”….sad but true …)
Anyway, on a counter attack Nick pressured their midfielder and got the ball to Lolo, who pushed it to Ewan who nicely went on the right, and crossed a beauty all the way back to Lolo who headed cooly the ball in the net…1-0 FCI
From then on we faced yet again waves of their attacks crashing on our defense…
We got an opportunity to go for 2-0 with Ewan (who decided that he wanted to keep the suspense on until the end) having a one on one with the keeper who slided the ball away…
The end of the game was intense with Ster’s pushing to score the equalizer (including their fat cunt “idiot du village” number 9 …to no avail…)
End whistle: 1-0 FCI (NB:we scored more than we conceded ergo we won !)
MOTM : Ewan (more than well deserved !)
2nd MOTM : Clem (who showed that boomers don’t get pension checks but still work their ass off )

6 points, clean sheet …chalalala

Nuclear war erupting across Europe, Putin being assassinated, the squatter leaving Nicks house. All of these things were predicted to happen before Ewan scored his first FCI goal. Thankfully for the 2nds looking to challenge for the title this season, the haters have been proven wrong and the curse has been lifted. All rejoice 🙌🙌

Now to the match:
A fast start was needed to set the tone for the season, and it happened. For the other team… Nate gave the questionable ref a decision to make by needlessly shoving their striker. Penalty converted 1-0 Braine Terminus.

It was swings and roundabouts as FCI quickly responded with a Jamie back heel effort deflecting in to bring it back to level. 1-1. FCI kept the pressure on, playing better and doing their best to navigate the referee who wanted to insert himself into the game. Jamie got a yellow card for saying something to the ref which he didn’t understand so he naturally took it as an insult (we’ll come back to this). Benji was put through a gap with a mishit pass from Nate that fell nicely and Benji sloted it to make it 2-1 going into half time.

Early into the second half the magical moment happened. EWAN SCORED. A pass across from Lolo made it (almost) impossible to miss. However, given his track record from last year, the team knows nothing is impossible when it comes to this guy missing open goals. A nation held its breath in anticipation. In it went to make it 3-1 for FCI who began to impose themselves on the match as Braine started to tire and lose shape.

It was great to see Joao back on the pitch and he marked the return with and had a chance to make it 2 but denied Ewan an assist on his special day by hitting the post from inside the 6 yard box.

With the game in the bag in the dying minutes Jamie did the sensible thing that anyone on a yellow card would do, a clumsy challenge to get himself back in the book and make it two yellows. He rightly earned himself a 100% success day with the dick of the day votes.

☘️☘️MOTM Benji in a great start for the boys. Allez FCI 🇮🇪🇮🇪