Real Problems for HH

Real Madrid made it three games unbeaten with an impressive 3-1 win over the in-form Lone Wanderers. Both sides had early free-kicks; William MacAvish getting his effort horribly wrong for the Wanderers while Samvel Mortanian was rather more unlucky with his effort as it crashed back off the angle. Mortanian would get his next attempt all wrong before Kevin Gabriele gave the hosts a 32nd minute lead with an exquisite lob which proved too good for Peyton. This goal filled Gabriele with confidence and it wasn’t long before he doubled the lead; lashing home a corner which had been delivered by Stu Mackay. The flying forward even went close to netting a first-half hat-trick but his header skimmed the bar and Madrid had to settle for a 2-0 lead at the break. The second-half would have a completely different feel to it as MacAvish cracked a free-kick home on 48 minutes to set off a few nerves in the home camp. Mao Wannasathit fired a shot wide before the Wanderers missed a guilt-edged chance to complete their recovery. After being awarded a penalty, MacAvish could only hit the crossbar and the chance was gone. Somewhat shaky following this moment the forward then wasted another chance and the visitors’ fate was sealed when Mortanian shot home in injury-time to give Madrid a 3-1 lead. FredRizzo now appears to have his Madrid side upwardly mobile following an indifferent start to the season and if they can keep up their attacking intent could be more than a match for anybody. HH admitted to being ‘so disappointed with (his) players’ before adding he wants them ‘to rise to the challenge of the league.’

Charlottenburg FC remained at the top of the table following a tight 1-0 success at Cressex. It didn’t look like they would get the points during a first-half which saw them second-best to a strong Cressex side. The home side would have the only two chances of the half but Claudio Flecha couldn’t hit the target from a free-kick move and Lauro Poggi fared no better when he struck the next set-piece at goal. This would be as good as the afternoon would get for Cressex, though, as the visitors took control of the second-half. They would win the majority of ball and with it, eventually, would create their chances. Matthew Upson wouldn’t make the most of his free-kick opportunity but from an Upson cross Kevin Phillips netted the winner with a calm finish on 82 minutes. Cressex never really threatened to get back into the contest and it proved to be another successful evening for Potsdamerplatz. His side look tight at the back and in good goal-scoring form also which makes them an extremely tough proposition. Villan_RAS will be looking for his side to be more clinical when on top in games and if they can rectify this they should start making progress.

These Charming Men returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Futsal FC. The first-half had little in the way of entertainment with only a yellow card and an injury giving the spectators any cause to talk about the game. The second-half would improve greatly and it would be the home side who would emerge as the stronger outfit. They opened the scoring with the first sight of goal in the entire game. Some fine wing pay by Lientur Rial ended with his cross getting the headed finish it deserved from Chano Delgado. Delgado would find himself unfortunate not to double the lead as his strike struck wood and Futsal escaped. However, they too would count themselves unlucky as Alf Ackroyd’s chip crashed off the bar for the visitors as they looked to equalise. TCM settled the game with a header by Mauricio Capdevila on 83 minutes as Futsal couldn’t force anymore chances. RDCM will have felt vindicated with his choice to have kept his council following their heavy defeat last time out. If he can generate such a response following a poor performance, TCM might be in for a very good season. Jake was gracious in defeat saying TCM ‘deserved to win’ but said that he wanted his side ‘to step up their game defensively’ in the weeks to come.

Los Samgeles Kings were a team reborn as they defeated Internazionale 3-2 to record their first win of the season. They started the game fast as a Luc Robitaille shot went just over but then retreated into their shells for a period. They would pay the price for this as they gave away a penalty which was scored by Chris Sutton on 26 minutes. The Kings responded with another Robitaille effort but, again, it missed the target and they might have been 2-0 down had Henrik Larsson not strayed offside. Derek Armstrong then completed a hat-trick of missed chances for the hosts as they went into the half-time break 1-0 down. The Kings received the boost they needed when Anze Kopitar flicked a header home on 50 minutes. Despite finding parity they would be fortunate to survive a Larsson effort which struck wood before Stephen Lorimer finished off a free-kick just before the hour to put Inter 2-1 up. Derek Armstrong missed an opening as LAK entered the final 10 minutes still behind. However, they would survive a Chris Sutton effort which struck the angle and then stun Inter with two late goals. Alexander Frolov headed in a cross for the equaliser on 88 minutes and, as Inter struggled to regain their composure, Robitaille shot home after a corner to complete the amazing finish. Following their first win Stripy will want his side to kick on but will need them to tighten up defensively to do so. JMc will no doubt look upon this as three points lost as with better finishing they could have been out of sight before LA’s strong finish.

Another side picking up their first win of the season were Juventus who edged out White Hawk FC 1-0. In truth, they would do so against the general run of play but they started the better of the two and had the first effort on goal as Jacobo Chacros missed with a header. They would get their early goal despite this as Adalberto Di Cintio drove in a powerful long range shot to leave Dankoi well-beaten. From this point on it would be all about White Hawk’s attempt to get back into the game. A free-kick from Clarence Ong A Fat would hit a post while other efforts from Clyde Nageswar and Adan Donahue saw good ‘keeping and inaccuracy cost them. Hawk would remain on top for the second-half but Ong A Fat was again unfortunate as his powerful shot struck the angle and went safe. They would have one more chance in injury-time but Nageswar got his effort wrong and it went well over the bar as Juve held on for three priceless points. The win sees SuperJuve’s side move onto four points after four games and sees them now have a base upon which to build. Hooraymee will undoubtedly feel his side were unfortunate in their defeat and someone may pay the price in an upcoming meeting.

The other game in the division saw Kroklund beat whipping boys Norfolk N Chance by a 5-0 score-line to push up the table. The chances would arrive regularly for the hosts and they would take a swift lead with a clever toe-poke by Gabriel Galtier on five minutes. Galtier would volley wide before Curt Elliott lobbed in a clever header on 23 minutes. This would be the last of the action of an opening half which saw NNC overwhelmed. The second-half would start with Trudell Conway heading at Olausson before Elliott had more success with a precise header on 50 minutes making it 3-0. Galtier was unlucky not to make it 4-0 with a cracking shot which hit a post before Aatu Vuokki steered an effort into the far corner for their fourth. Vuokki would receive some fortune on 75 minutes as he completely miss-hit an effort which ended up deceiving the ‘keeper to make it 5-0. This would be the end of the misery for Howemiester’s NNC but they will surely go through more pain as they look to build something worthwhile for the future. Bossebong, meanwhile, will be pleased with his new signing’s performance and they can only benefit more as he settles in.