TCM Halt CFC Bandwagon

These Charming Men produced a stirring comeback to take a point in a 2-2 draw at Charlottenburg FC. The hosts took an early lead through David Beckham as he connected superbly with a driving shot which left Derksen with no chance in goal. Paul Scholes had a curled effort saved by the ‘keeper as Charlottenburg maintained their excellent start to the game. Indeed, they would go 2-0 up as Michael Owen flicked a header home on 34 minutes to leave TCM with it all to do. However, TCM are a tough side and Loran Rajabi immediately gave them hope with a well-placed header. The second-half would see the visitors dominate in the way the hosts did the first. The sides would trade early chances as Lientur Rial and Robert Lee went close for their respective teams. TCM then produced a super equaliser as Scottie Gillan lifted up a free-kick for Juan Pablo Castellano to hit with a half-volley which flew past Robinson. Mauricio Capdevilla then lobbed over the bar before Gerard Caffery had an effort chalked off for offside. Rajabi did see red late on for the visitors but they had done enough to earn a share of the spoils. Charlttenburg news reported that after their side’s unbeaten start to the season they ‘can only throw promotion away now.’ RDCM, meanwhile, rued their disallowed goal before adding that it was ‘a good performance.’

Real Madrid sharpened up in front of goal with a 6-0 home win over Norfolk N Chance as they moved into second. A third minute header from Kevin Gabriele sent them on their way and, despite an injury to Aren Garabedian, they would never look back. His replacement doubled the lead as Mao Wannasathit placed his shot expertly past Fazackerley to make it 2-0 on 11 minutes. The ‘keeper lunged at Davit Ohaneisan’s feet to prevent him scoring before Madrid did get their third goal. It came via an exquisite lob by Samvel Mortanian as he caught Fazackerley completely by surprise. The fourth followed shortly after as Norfolk struggled to cope. Mortanian adding his second goal of the game by placing the ball home following a swift breakaway. The rest of the half was played out in front of the respective goals and Madrid would take a 4-0 lead into the sheds. The second-half was a quieter affair but Stu Mackay did fire wide early on for Madrid. They would have to wait until the 74th minute for their fifth goal but it was worth the wait as Ohanesian hit a stunning volley from a training ground corner. Gabriele would finish the scoring with a brilliant lob on 86 minutes to complete the misery for Norfolk and leave Madrid sitting pretty. FredRizzo will understand that despite their good position at the moment they cannot get carried away in what is always a very tough section. Howemiester would be delighted to see his side score a goal but the more worrying aspect for his them is their seemingly poor form which undermines what they are trying to achieve in future seasons.

Juventus came from behind to take a point in a 1-1 home draw with Kroklund. Juventus would be the stronger side throughout the game but couldn’t make the most of their openings. Jacobo Chacros started the pattern by heading over on just four minutes. The rest of the half saw the home side punished for some cynical play as Seymour Red kept producing the yellows. They did have a further chance through Jorn Fruh but Kroklund ‘keeper Kangashaka was well-placed to gather. The visitors would stun the stadium in the 67th minute as they scored with their first chance of the game. Bosse Bong delivered a dangerous corner and Aatu Vuokki needed only to direct his header onto goal to give them a 1-0 lead. They were lucky not to gift the home side a way back in moments later as Toini Vasama misdirected his kick in front of goal and watched on in hope as it bounced away off the angle. Juventus did eventually get the goal their play deserved, though, as Adalberto Di Cintio produced a textbook diving header to send the home fans wild. SuperJuve will know that his side might have wasted an opportunity to gain three points in a game they had much the better of but will be pleased with their never-say-die attitude. Kroklund remain in a good position following the result but they face a tough match next against These Charming Men.

Internazionale showed no ill-effects of their manager jumping ship as they defeated The Lone Wanderers 2-1 at The Capital Wasteland. Inter put in an impressive first-half display and went close to opening the scoring in the first six minutes. Mortimer Wainman saw his powerful low shot saved by Peyton before Edip Bayrak’s cheeky back-heel went just wide. Stephen Lorimer had a header saved by Peyton and Philip Calderwood shot wide as Inter continued to press up until half-time. The home side did improve after the break with William MacAvish seeing his lob punched away by Ronaldo Mantua. Edip Bayrak didn’t really threaten with a half-volley for the visitors as the half assumed a more even feel. Indeed, as the chances came at both ends MacAvish saw Mantua save with his legs from a free-kick before Inter took the lead. It came from an Elton Hills cross and ended when Stephen Lorimer produced a lovely finish with a diving header. This lead was swiftly doubled as Calderwood found his range from distance and, although MacAvish got his reward with a brilliant free-kick, it was enough to see Inter home. They have since appointed GarethLloyd as their new manager and it may well be an exciting time for fans as he brings with him a reputation as being a ‘football purest.’ HH will hope his coaches can keep the side on the right track while he ‘take(s) a break’ due to illness although he did add that he ‘will be keeping contact with the squad’ during this period.

Cressex picked up an important win with a 2-1 success over Los Samgeles Kings. Torben Kummel nearly lifted the visitors in the third minute with an ambitious lob from distance which was only denied by the crossbar. The hosts would then waste a penalty as Ignacio Castellini saw Cloutier block the ball as the Kings escaped. Cressex gained some dominance but would fail to open the scoring as Lauro Poggi couldn’t net with a free-kick. Douglas Wallberg then saw a flicked header saved before Kummel responded at the other end with a volley which needed watching closely. The second-half saw the Kings also miss a penalty; Michal Handzus being denied by Ikhala. Anze Kopitar then saw a header sail over and they would pay the price as Cressex opened the scoring. Poggi would be the scorer as he picked up the ball in space before drilling a low shot into the goal. This would quickly become a two-goal lead as Poggi proved too hot to handle again; a diving header leaving Cloutier stranded and the home support ecstatic. Poggi nearly made it a hat-trick but failed with a header before Kummel dragged the Kings back into it with a cracking free-kick. Unfortunately, it proved too little, too late for them and Cressex would go home with the three points. The points moved them level with their opponents although Villan_RAS will want them to pick up their form as they look to move up the table. Stripy8 will be looking for his side to stop shipping goals as they always look dangerous enough to score in matches.

In the divisions' other game, Futsal and White Hawk fought out an entertaining draw at Futsal Arena. Graeme Haynes opened the scoring for the home side after four minutes by heading home well from an Alf Ackroyd cross. Both sides would create a host of chances in the game and Clyde Nageswar looked to respond immediately for Hawk but his shot was saved. The chances would continue to be traded as Rick Tuttle saw his header saved for the hosts before Adan Donahue could count himself unfortunate not to equalise as his half-volley came back off the angle. Tuttle did double the lead for Futsal with a brilliant header on 25 minutes and they might have had further joy had Rowley Forrester been more accurate with his free-kick. Nageswar and Donahue both tried to bring Hawk back into it before the break but failed and Tuttle struck a post as Futsal nearly extended their lead further. The visitors got a massive boost at the start of the second-half as Jermaine Asher put through his own net to halve the deficit. Both sides suffered injuries before Bardes headed straight at the ‘keeper and Heskey hit a post as Futsal looked to turn the screw. They would pay for missing these chances, though, as Hawk found an equaliser; Ryan Dharmsingh lobbing home following a dangerous corner which wasn’t cleared. The sides looked to find the winner but Haynes and Forrester failed for the hosts while Dharmsingh and Sparendam missed for the visitors who also saw Jerry Raafenberg hit the post in injury-time. The sides sit in mid-table and Hooraymee will be hoping his troops can find the consistency to move up the table. Jake will still be tinkering with his new side as he looks to find the formula which will take Futsal onto the next level.