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It was not a Beautiful Day for the Men’s 2s as they went out to Audergham to play Higgins FC. It has the chance to turn into a massacre, akin to Sunday Bloody Sunday, when Higgins went 1-0 up early on in the first half. However, the FCI boys showed Desire to respond immediately with a beautiful weighted crossed being headed in by Lolo from close range.
It could have been a Bad day were it not for Maxi, who kept the team in with a string of world class saves throughout the match to keep Ireland in the hunt. Heading into the break it was 1-1 with every chance to come on away with a point.
At halftime the lads were looking to sideline for support from Neil and Matteo and probably thinking that With or Without You it would have been a difficult match against a well drilled, fit team.
Midway through the second half Higgins were first to a breaking ball in the box following a brilliant Maxi save that was bundled over the line to make it 2-1.
The bench did their best to have an impact, with Ewan missing his second easiest 1 on 1 of the season. Ruefully as it went over the bar he thought I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for, a goal. A couple other chances went missing and ultimately they were missing the crucial final touch to facilitate a potential smash and grab in tough conditions.
The boys shower Pride, in the name of love for the jersey, never giving up and pushing till the final whistle to get an equaliser.
It would have been the Sweetest Thing to have got away with a point, but ultimately Higgins did enough to take all 3 points. Important to Walk On and reset and for a big match next week against Vetuso before the Christmas break.
The season kicked off with an intense clash between Ireland and Higgins, set against the backdrop of a field filled with the strong smell of manure.
Ireland came out strong, dominating possession early on. Their efforts paid off when Benji found the back of the net, converting a well-executed throw-in from Villu to give Ireland a 1-0 lead at halftime. It was a hard-fought first half, with Ireland holding their own.
However, the second half was a different story. Ireland’s 4-1-4-1 struggled against Higgins’ 3-5-2 formation, especially as the game became more physical. Gineste nearly doubled Ireland’s lead after some great team play, but his shot missed by just 30 cm, skimming past the right post.
Higgins managed to equalize with a penalty (!) after a big scramble in the box. From there, Ireland found it tough to build up play, held back by the heat and the wind working against them. Higgins then pulled ahead, catching Ireland’s defense off guard with a ball over the top that led to a 1-on-1 finish, making it 2-1.
Despite a late push, Ireland couldn’t find an equalizer, and the match ended in a 2-1 defeat. MOTM: BB7