FC Irlande Vets 2

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.

Sunny day in Kraainem and Alan warming up topless one hour before kick off greeted Vets 2 arriving at the pitch. Another week with a big squad available gave the captains another selection headache but thanks for the understanding of those not selected, and Pascal offering to ref, and Damo crying off to hospital for emergency surgery (get well soon mate!) we went out with a strong team.

First half went pretty well, FCI in control for the most part only to go one down after an awkward bounce on the terrible dirt pitch. But we got one back before the half with a good strike from Luuk on the edge of the box.

Second half didn’t quite go our way.. I’ll keep it brief and just let the final score speak for itself, 6-1.

But we kept our heads up and won the third half by a mile. Kitty’s awaits for Sharon’s gig tonight!

Vets2 – Higgins 3
As Earth, Wind and Fire said: “Do you remember, Twenty-sixth night of September?”
Vets2 certainly did, the captains had once more the luxury of a squad big as the Gulf of Mexico so there was ambition in the air.
In the most selfless way Alan had stepped aside and was looking after the team from the side. To strengthen the tactical acumen, he brought Leila the dog.
Weather was good, end is nigh after all, and everybody were up for the task. The task was Higgins. A team that could be, as Gennaro Gattuso would say: sometimes good, sometimes shit.
In addition to the usual suspects there were some new faces, so the supporting crowd consisting of Neil and Ken were filled with curious anticipation.
Already in the early minutes we saw some slick passing along the right flank end up as a dangerous cross that was just fractions away from being a dangerous shot on goal.
The game was mostly an even and hard fought affair with Ireland having the slight initiative, but the visitors were always ready to attack with intent. The grass was dry and bumpy, and the bounce caught many a good man on this day.
The visitors managed to get a corner, and it was effectively converted with a header from the six yard line. One player came across from behind and got in front of the six yard guard. Difficult to defend, well taken.
But the lads did not drop the heads, the game continued in the same fashion with good spells but no goal.
Half time saw Alan rallying the troops together with his assistant, new legs were brought on and the spirit was that there was a result to get in this game.
It appeared the opponents started to feel the immense pace and tempo, and we were able to bring the ball in more and more dangerous positions but without the output as desired.
Then Mark got the ball on our half, passed out to our right to Jacob who managed to make it a 1-2 with 2 opponents as pressure, suddenly Mark had plenty of space to run into and we could see he was considering all options while carrying the ball. In the end he went to the byline and whipped in a high cross which Yacine converted with a thunderous header. All square. 1-1.
On this day most teams would have said “yeah, we can live with a draw”, but Vets2 is not most teams. We kept defending well, with a defensive wall that Hadrian would have approved. At the same time, we had energy and skill to create trouble for their defense but still with no goals to show.
As so many times, instead of hoofing the ball from defense, it was played with intent to Cedric on our left. He advanced a fair bit, stopped up and sent in a tempting cross towards Gzim. Keeper came out and together with a defender they a) blocked the shot, b) cleared the ball into the defenders head, and the ball bounced into the net in the most unusual fashion. But as clever pundits say, every goal counts.
This was basically the last kick of the game and from being one behind Vets2 had made the perfect comeback. 2-1 and an important home win.
This was one of those “everyone should be MOTM”, but reality is that only one (or two, maybe three in Vets2) can get the honour of buying the round. After precise counting, it was clear that Mark was the well deserved MOTM. Many more to come, we can hope.
Ken felt that he had not paid enough attention to cast votes, instead he was selected to write the report.

Vets 2 had a full squad and somehow all managed to get out to Bierghes on time. We started really well, Paddy taking the armband won the toss and chose to start downhill with the wind. Then the match started… Bierghes had an advantage in knowing how to play their sloped and very hard grass pitch. It was fairly even but Bierghes drew first blood with a header from a corner. We got one back before half time from our own corner, Yacine swinging a dangerous ball into the 6 yard box and Benoit finishing off an initial rebound. 1-1 half time. Our bench made a positive impact in the second half, Jacob almost scoring a goal of the season contender that hit the crossbar, but it wasn’t to be and Bierghes scored a second header to take the lead. As time was running out we pushed forward looking for the equaliser but as happens in such situations they found a third goal on winning one of our own goal kicks against tiring legs. Final score 3-1 loss but a really good performance and very competitive match. MOTM went to Benoit on his welcome return from sejourne with Vets 1. We’ll get the win on the return fixture!

Match report from Vets 2:
First and foremost big thanks to Nico for being referee and Jeff as Delegue !!
Vets 2 were up against the unpredictable Karia at home. We lost the toss and started uphill against the wind, which clearly screwed up our master plan. Despite a few good chances in the first half, we went into half time 0-2 down. 3 changes and second half promised more but they got a gifted 3rd before too long. We finally started playing and putting pressure high up pinning Karia into their own half. Goals from Alan and straight from a corner from Rafa started the comeback, but we couldn’t find the equaliser despite our best efforts. Everyone put the effort in but it wasn’t our day. Result of 2-3 left us mulling over what could’ve been, until Damo arrived with the first round in the changing room. MOTM went to Stefan who was instrumental in driving us forwards in the second half, but very close behind were Rafa and Yacine who had a great impact in the middle of the pitch. Ben will need to come visit more often and together with Antonio who both came on at half time made a big impact as well. Cheers lads, we’ll get it right next time!

Vets 2 arrived mostly on time and were very unusually already kitted out and starting the warm-up a good half hour before kick off.. maybe that’s what threw us off! We started with a 4-4-2 formation looking to emulate last week’s heroics, but were soon brought back to ground by Cornac’s slick passing and fast transitions. Soon after the early warnings, they scored from a soft(ish) penalty. We started making a few inroads down the right with Rafa slotting Bobby through on a few occasions and one resulted in a good shot that went just wide. Despite our efforts, their big man up front got two more from from corners and we went in 3-0 down at half time.
Martin came off for Stefan, making a welcome comeback, and Pietro also came on for Paddy who was running on fumes after a heavy night.. We improved in the second half and started pressing higher to create opportunities, but unfortunately still couldn’t find the net and Cornac got two more on the counter. Tough day at the office but we were outplayed fair and square. All is well though since Laurent won MOTM and bought a round of the strongest beers in the buvette and we went home happy 🙂

Match report – Game 1 – Vets 2 v BUFC 7

So the big day finally arrived.. first game of the season against our friendly rivals British United. The day got off to a bad start when we got news that the turds had to forfeit because their ref considered that the white lines on the pitch were too hard to see … don’t tell the Brits … careless talk and all that … the guys from Nossegem waved away our complaints and pleas .. but lucky enough, we had no official ref and the game got underway .. Ireland lined up 4-4-1-1 with Laurent in goal and a new look back 4 of Damo Martin Benoit and Cedric. In centre midfield Rafa and Luuk, Antonio and Bobby on the wings, Gustavo helping us out at nbr 10 and Oscar in his customary position up front. In the opening exchanges Ireland took the game to the Brits as planned but that didn’t last long .. we were a bit disorganised, British players were going unmarked, mistakes were being made, we were under constant pressure for a period of about 10 minutes. Some of the mistakes should have led to goals but we were saved a couple of times by Laurent and by some wayward Britsh shooting .. gradually though Ireland took back control .. the midfield trio asserted their quality and started combing well with the wingers and striker, spreading the ball around, creating chances. When we didn’t have the ball we pressed them hard to regain possession and force errors. Bobby had clearly taken the captains email to heart and was close to vomiting at one point. Exactly what we want. After about 20 minutes Oscar chased a loose ball on the edge of the box getting to it at the same time as the keeper who handled the ball outside the box. Free kick and yellow card, should have been red. Rafa took the free. Sent it high over the wall, it dipped late, sneaking just under the bar with the keeper unable to reach it. Beautiful goal. 1-0 to Ireland. 7 minutes later Oscar gambled that the defender would screw up a tricky back pass, nipping in to steal the ball and finished well. 2-0.
At half-time Alan came in for Gustavo as planned, Pietro for Cedric. Cedric had an excellent half in his first game as a defender, passing out of the back with great composure and using his speed and strength to good effect when defending.
In the 2nd half Ireland continued to dominate, with all players involved in passing moves from back to front and switching play nicely from one side to the other. On one occasion Benoit raided up the pitch beating 3 or 4 players and almost scoring. On another occasion it was Luuk who made a great run and then unleashed a powerful shot from about 20 metres which crashed into the net off the underside of the bar.
3-0
Bobby then went close, he ran past the the defender, one on one with the keeper his shot was saved.
But the Brits got one back, a nice passing move ended with their striker scoring from close range. They went close again after a poor Irish pass across the back was intercepted but Laurent was quick off his line, made himself big and blocked the shot. For the last few minutes Ireland managed to regain control and retain possession to see the game out and secure an important victory.
MOTM Rafa, well deserved.
Many thanks to delegue Bart, great to have him back..