Game 7: French Kiss – KCC

The Men in White (los hombres de blanco! . . . bianco! blanc!) took the pitch under a new direction (non?) which suited them well as their minds were clear.  Play hard, play smart.  Simple. 

End result: French Kiss 2 – Kowloon Cricket Club 1

The team: 3-2-3-2 or 5-1-3 or 1-5-3.... whatever it was it confused the opposition.  Nico between the pipes.  Angel anchoring the back, Dick and Adrien beside.  El Capitano Paolo slotted to the right and Vojta on the left.  Ken and Henrique running in the middle and Mauro holding.  Jackal and Thomas chasing and causing problems up front.  Ample men on the side waiting their second half turn:  Danny, Rudi, Milan, Lewis, and Edo (a.k.a. Eto'o).

The first twenty minutes had KCC confused and yelling typical Britishisms at each other, the referee, and whoever else would listen - - not us.  The French Kiss ground game and multiple passes to space left KCC chasing and wishing they would have played with the wind.  Jackal had a chance, then Mauro, and ultimately after a 6-player seven-pass combination found Thomas at the top of the area arcing a blast past the demure goal keepers hands; 1-0.  Moments later it was more passing until Mauro decided the ball just felt too good at his foot.  Slow motion replay showed pure brilliance capped by a leaping dance; 2-0.  It could of, or should have, been 3-0 had the KCC keeper not made a brilliant save on Thomas and later on Paolo (O.K., maybe not a brilliant save on this one . . .)  This 20-minute flurry by far the best in over a year by French Kiss.....

15 minutes from half either the legs got tired or our minds.... either way, we couldn't stop a simple 3 on 6 as their right striker and wing played a double on Dick, Vojta, and Ken and then really tricked them by passing to the middle; 2-1.  Inspired, the referee saw yellow and KCC began playing better running at the midfielders.  The French Kiss shape became extended, but managed to hold until the half.  2-1, a fair result, though a 3rd goal would have been nice.

Halftime saw Henrique, Thomas, & Ken replaced.  4-4-2 implemented to combat the wind and preserve the lead.  Vojta to the middle, Edo to right wing (with new shoes to keep him from falling), Paolo over to the left, Danny to stopper.  KCC applied pressure immediately and if it were not for Nico's heroics the equalizer might have resulted.  Multiple saves followed by long punts to neutralize the KCC momentum saw French Kiss holding.  Mauro pulled something in his leg and joined Thomas on the side with a roll of plastic wrap (an Italian thing?) . . . enter Rudi.  More KCC pressure, some chances by us.... as Lewis was running (dribbling) like crazy along with Jackal (his best game this year) and Paolo.  Angel continued to anchor providing calm clearance and direction to the frenzied Adrien and Dick who were marking extremely fast and skilled KCC strikers.  Milan replaced Jackal and his height really screwed with KCC; a solid performance.

The wind picked up as did our defense and KCC could only lob hopeful through balls which Adrien, Dick and especially Angel shielded to touch for goal kick after goal kick.  The final whistle from a fair referee or was it that we just plain and simple kept our mouths shut and gave him no reason to "hate"??? anyway, 2-1.  3 points.  AND more importantly GREAT team spirit and some beautiful (and yes, some ugly) football!

CU All FOR TRAINING
The "intermediate" coach Ken

Next game: Wandererers, on Sunday 16 November, 6:00 p.m., in Happy Valley at Hong Kong Football Club Not to miss !! Send your availability to the "intermediate" coach Ken, please !