Los Franginos

On a beautiful day in Wavre, the boys in green took to the field for the first time post-winter break in optimistic mood. The optimism bordered on buoyancy when we took note that Franginos’ star striker, ‘the white Drogba’ as he had been dubbed following his destruction of our defence at Fortress Nossegem, was absent.

However that optimism was short-lived as the home team struck early with a rebounded corner falling to their right back about 25 yards from goal, who struck a banana shot fortuitously over Max and under the bar. 1-0, against the run of play.

With words of encouragement still ringing in their ears from the restart that we can still get back into this, disaster struck as Franginos’ striker pounced on an error in the back to take a shot from outside the box, with the same effect of finding the underside of the crossbar. 2-0.

But having established a foothold in the game, the Greens fought back valiantly, and a luscious ball over the top from right to left by Lorenzo to Lolo put him in goal, and he made no mistake, lobbing the goalie. 2-1. Frenetic.

From there the Greens had the better of the first half, without creating a clear cut chance. But as the first half was drawing to a close a quick counter down their righthand side caught the Greens napping at the back, as some good wing play and an early cross picked out a second attacker who found himself one-on-one with max, and struck it just ferociously enough that it beat him, despite stinging his palm. 3-1 half time. Down, but not quite out.

Sensing that the next goal would sway the outcome, the Greens started the 2nd period much more on the front foot. And with 10 mins of the 2nd half gone, Greens introduced Benji in a substitution that would prove to be inspired: his first touch of the game to chest down a Jouke centre, before volleying sublimely beyond their keeper. 3-2: game on.

The second half continued to play predominantly with the Greens on the front foot, although chances were at a premium, with Lolo going close from crosses on 2 separate occasions. But as the end of the game drew nearer, Joao found some space in the box and was felled at the moment he was setting himself to pull the trigger. Penalty! Our first of the season, maybe? (edit : nope) And what great timing for it to arrive. Joao made no mistake in dispatching it to complete the comeback. 3-3, and time enough still to go on and win it?

With time fizzling away, it was not the Greens but the Franginos who came closest to breaking the deadlock: a header in a melee from a corner leading to some brilliant defensive work by Benji off the line to cement his man of the match cameo from the bench.

With time fast running out, Lorenzo reacted badly to a flailing elbow, misdirecting a whispered insult a little too closely to the ref to earn himself an early bath.

3-3 it was to stay. Not a perfect start to 2026, but nonetheless a valiant fight back that proved the spirit of this group. Plenty of cause for optimism as we play out the rest of the season.

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