Zlatan Izuhimovic was the star yesterday as the Swedish striker put three past Benyamin Ikhala to seal a comfortable 3-1 win over S.S. Manfredonia for Three Lions FC.
The Whites were pressured right from the start as promotion rivals Manchester United and New York City both took early leads at Juventus and The Vikings respectively. However, Izuhimovic gave S.S. Manfredonia a warning of what Three Lions FC were all about as he rose high above the Manfredonia defence to send a powerful header crashing into Ikhala's right post. Izuhimovic then earned his side the lead going into the halftime break as he received a pass from Izu Kaka inside the penalty area and lashed a powerful shot past Ikhala.
Three Lions FC then slowed down the pace of the game as they fought to defend their lead. However, S.S. Manfredonia almost scored the equaliser when Damiano Grimaldi forced Izu Casillas into a flying save with a half-volley from a promising freekick. Izu Kaka could have extended his side's lead in the 75th minute but he could not get enough on his header to trouble the keeper.
Theo Grönlund could have scored a goal as well when he broke away from the Three Lions defence but he decided to try and round Casillas who grabbed the ball from right under the defender's feet. A precise header from Rodrigo Possebon forced Ikhala into a fine double-fisted save. However, the keeper could do nothing as Izuhimovic scored not once, but twice in the following minutes, first heading powerful from a Cesc Izukas cross before managing to chip the ball past Ikhala after a goalmouth scramble to round off his hat trick. The only disappointment in a wonderful night for the hosts was the own goal by Carles Izuyol who caught Casillas offguard with his back pass.
"It's no problem. Even the best make mistakes and that's what Izuyol did. However, we now have to worry about Goals Aloud who managed to put three goals past West Brom Strollers. If we win this next game, I believe that we will have won promotion," said Izuka to reporters after the match.
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