French Kiss - 816

The game was played at King's Park at 9pm and for Hong Kong standards, the conditions were chilly. In the hours before the game, there were a couple of setbacks with last minute cancellations from Lewis and Fabio de Rosa.. Thanks to our stand-by goalie Davido, who was willing to re-schedule his Sunday evening plans, it was prevented that the French Kiss team would play without a goalkeeper.

Ultimately 13 players turned up for the challenge. Davido, Dick, Fabo M, Ken, Adrien, Julien, Jurian, Etienne, Paolo, Henry and Jackyl as the starting 11 and Tim and Maarten on the bench. With no substitute strikers and wingers not really the most comfortable coverage to start a game against the league leaders but never mind. Over the last two years, the French Kiss team has proven to be a very flexible and dynamic team that easily can adapt to the situation.

The warming up was good and the spirit looked great. The team looked very focussed. At 9pm sharp the game kicked off. The first 5 minutes showed a very attacking French Kiss. This kind of surprised the opponent and they looked lost. 816 almost lost it all when after 10 minutes a bullet from long distance off the feet from out left back Ken just went over the bar. 816 looked shaken and soon realized that the game would not be an easy one. However, league leader are no league leaders without a reason as they showed their perseverance and skills. With great combination football and their fast play over the wings, gradually they took over control in the game with their attacking soccer. The French Kiss defense was overwhelmed as it seemed that 816 was playing with about 5 strikers during the remainder of the first half. The French Kiss defense managed to keep the situation under control for a long time but ultimately to nobodies surprise the 0-1 fell. Their left winger (nr. 22) made himself available at the far left, had a great run after a pass from the midfield and without any French Kiss defender around he could easily score, leaving Davido nailed on the ground.

Never mind. Just one goal behind so no panic. The coach stepped in. Immediately the tactics were changed. Etienne, who had been playing on defensive midfield sofar was moved back as a second stopper together with Adrien. This change would make Dick available to concentrate on the right defense only. The tactics worked and w/o any further real danger the first half was finished.

During the teabreak the changed French Kiss tactics re-emphasized. No substitutes were not yet made. The second half started. Despite, the French Kiss defense doing its job well, the solid goalkeeping of Davido prevented another goal when one of the 816 strikers found himself clear of the French Kiss defense on the way of the goal. However, Davido came out of his goal like a boomerang, dived on the ground, the ball and the opponents feet and snatched the ball just on the edge of the 16 meter box.

The game continued and both teams didn't create many chances. The game looked locked up. But then there was this marvellous cross from our Dutch midfielder Jurian to Paolo on the left. Paolo received the ball well and started running / sprinting with the ball like nobody else (even not Ben Johnson) can do. His cross hit the opponent's defense and went corner.

Paolo took the corner himself and managed to produce a much better one than the ones against the Corinthians some weeks earlier. Actually the corner was perfect. The ball hang in the air and landed on Ken's head (or was it shoulder). With a "header" hardly seen before the ball went hard into the 816 net. It was 1-1 and the French Kiss euphoria was big. Would it be possible to get a point out of this game? The game continued. 816 looked shocked and started to play another kind of tactics with long balls. We know but they don't know that long balls won't work against the French Kiss defense. Fabio Magrin and Adrien are good at headers! Just like Maarten, who came in to replace Etienne who left the field after being kicked on his hip.

Then, with about another 15 minutes to go there is Jurian again with one of his great passes. This time the attack goes over the right and after some nice combination soccer between Julien and Jackyl the honour is ultimately up to Jackyl to finish it off and seal the 2-1. What a goal! With the ball in the left top corner of the goal the 816 goalie is demoted to a spectator. The French Kiss happiness is great.

But would it be possible to keep the 2-1 advantage and take 3 points out of this game? 816 still believes that long balls are the solution and continues battering the French Kiss defense with them. But with solid defending and a great team spirit, French Kiss survives. The last minutes of the game feel like hours and it looks like the referee's watch is running London time. Of course there is some added time because the game is so nice to watch and is a real thriller. But then, finally the referee blows his whistle and the game is over. After 90 minutes (incl. extra time of estimated 10 minutes) the French Kiss victory is a fact and the final score is a well-deserved 2-1. We didn't play our greatest soccer of the season but with determination and team spirit / friendship one can also win games. Today's result did prove that.

Rgds,

Cees