RAS Jodoigne B

Early Sunday morning trip to the wuthering Jodoigne for FC Irlande Ladies III to face the third team in the ranking, R.A.S. Jodoigne.

FCI takes control of the match since the starting whistle. The first opportunity to score arrives quite soon for the ladies in green with Clémence who, from inside the penalty area, finds the space for a shot that is, however, stopped by the opponent’s goalie. Throughout the first half, FCI creates several goal-scoring opportunities. Long passes find the space between Jodoigne’s goalie and defence putting FCI’s strikers in favourable conditions to score. Not-perfect timing and coldness in the attacking phase and in front of the goal allow Jodoigne to recover and block these attacking actions. By the end of the first half, FCI has two other opportunities to score: the first with Marianne who attempts a long-range shot and the second with Clémence who, this time, tries to score with a shot from the edge of the box. Despite the effort of FCI, the first half ends 0-0.

In the second half, the wind turns. Jodoigne enters the match with intensity and determination pressuring FCI. Thanks to their ball circulation and skills, Jodoigne scores the opening goal. A cross coming from FCI’s left side finds the rapacious touch of Jodoigne’s striker who anticipates any defensive intervention. The wind and Jodoigne’s renovated effort obstacle FCI’s attacking manoeuvre. Roxanne tries a shot but from a too-defiladed position to worry the goalkeeper. The match ends 1-0.

Despite giving 100% in all our matches and always fighting to bring home the result, considering the position of Jodoigne in the ranking, it was not really realistic to think of winning this match. So, in the end, we should not be so disappointed about the final result and should be encouraged by the team’s excellent performance. But, for the way the result arrived, it is hard not to be. As against Saint-Michel, we defended well and created several opportunities to score (more than our opponents) but we could not capitalise on those opportunities. Now we need commitment, focus and intensity during the training to find the missing piece.

Player(s) of the match: Marianne and Marina