PSV Colla Win at Last

PSV Eindhoven won their first game of the season in an exciting match at Abu Dhabi United. With both sides all about development this term this game was always going to be one where the other would look to for an important victory. PSV started positively and Claudio Collauto lobbed in spectacularly to put them 1-0 ahead. Franklin Pepper had a diving header go close at the other end as United tried to respond and Ilppo Visavuori did level with a bullet header. Claudio Moura then hit a half-volley straight at Reina and they would also see Ritchie Morgan miss a penalty as the chances went begging for United. Visavuori was unlucky with his effort, though, as a powerful low shot struck a post and Jonathan Boulding made it more painful viewing with a free-kick which also struck the woodwork. PSV finally went back on the offensive on 23 minutes with Miquel Tonelotto heading straight at Rossell while Collauto missed with a free-kick. He would get another couple of chances before the break, though, and put his efforts on target only for Rossell to gather easily on both occasions. PSV would come out after the break even more positive but Rossell once more denied Collauto, this time with a much better save. United then capitalised on their ‘keeper’s excellence and a super strike by Juliano De Gasperi put them 2-1 ahead on 58 minutes. It would take a while for PSV to regroup following this setback but Collauto did level on 76 minutes with an excellent diving header and they would finish the stronger of the two sides. The forward would then finally make good with a set-piece by drilling into the net for his third to put PSV ahead. Indeed, he might have added another in injury-time but put his volley wildly over but they could still celebrate three impressive points at the final whistle. Talinmer was in reflective mood before facing his team after the contest admitting that despite it being ‘one heck of a game’ it’s ‘just not the way it ought to be’ at the moment. Kadri called it ‘an excellent team performance’ before adding that it ‘gives the league a glimpse of what our talent is capable of.’

Bully Boys once again hit the top of the division with a 4-2 home success over a resilient wortley side. With the sides occupying different halves of the table a home win was expected but wortley made them fight for every inch. Valio Kapiala would steer the Boys in front in the very first minute but wortley also signalled their intention as Brandon Hiller lobbed a header just over. Sjunne Wenna forced Gareth into a decent stop from a header before Berti Behrends did make it 2-0 on 12 minutes from another aerial attack. Wortley didn’t let their heads drop, though, but they suffered more misfortune on the half-hour as Hiller put a penalty off-target. Gareth would keep them in touching distance by saving from a Kapiala free-kick before Gabriel Galtier put a lob over the bar. Behrends was the next to pressure the visiting goal but his powerful shot lacked the required accuracy and the hosts had to settle for a two-goal half-time lead. Wortley were better after the break and pulled a goal back courtesy of a well-placed Rai Kike shot. However, the home side were boosted on 64 minutes with Toini Vasama converting a penalty to show Hiller how it was done. Wortley would still press despite finding themselves two-goals down again and Paulinho Santos had gone close before putting a free-kick narrowly wide. Hiller would also force Kangashaka into a leg save and they would suffer at the other end as Kike put through his own goal to make it 4-1 on 83 minutes. Still wortley tried hard and got some reward as Hiller headed in to put a little respectability on the score. Cath said he ‘hoped his side can retain their lead’ but they face a tough test next against The Kings who ‘are unbeaten at home.’ Thegtreatlordbags can take heart from this performance and they will hope to be as positive when they entertain Crimea next.

Crimea River impressed at home to knock Gooners off the top with a 2-1 victory. A tight contest was expected at Theatre of Tragedy as an improving home side met with an always strong Gooners side. Gooners would begin well and Freddie Ljungberg was unlucky with a half-volley which struck a post. Andrey Arshavin would put a powerful low shot wide at the other end as the sides traded chances. Sid Peyton curled another effort wide for the hosts before they nearly fell behind to a powerful low shot from distance by Kyle Lang which was ruled out for a somewhat dubious offside call. Iain Wright would then see a curled effort saved by Fabianski while Crimea responded with a Carl Spegel shot which was off-target. Gooners had the final say in the first-half but Iain Wright mishit a shot and Fabianski saved. The visitors would take the lead on 63 minutes with Cesc Fabregas enjoying some fortune as his mishit shot found its way into the corner of the net. Crimea would respond strongly, though, and they put Gooners under significant pressure for the remainder of the contest. Mikael Silvestre put a chip just over before a breakaway saw the defender lob the ball over Seaman to level the contest. Alex Song would then shoot home after a corner on 88 minutes to the delight of the home fans and they might have added another but Tomas Rosicky’s header struck the woodwork. Nevertheless, Crimea held on for an important win which sees them just four points off the Gooners in third. Ith explained that ‘a little more composure in front of goal and we would have the game sewn up long before the end’ but still said he felt ‘elated.’ FMR, meanwhile, congratulated Ith on a ‘good game’ but thought his side had done enough ‘to earn a draw.’

These Charming Men remain in second spot after a tough 1-1 home draw with FC Bayern Munich. With Munich looking to bridge the gap between them and the top three avoiding defeat would be essential in this contest and they produced a sound away performance. However, TCM would have the first chance even though Chano Delgado would head over and the rest of the half would pass off without any action. Munich began the more positive after the break and Sam Jakestown tested the handling of Avellino but the ‘keeper wouldn’t disappoint. Jordi Rodri would brush a post with a fine volley for the hosts who then took the lead as Stuart Cooksey placed home accurately from inside the area. Billy Bob nearly levelled quickly for the visitors but his header struck a post. It wouldn’t be long before they were level, though, as Bob Country chipped over Avellino on 74 minutes to make it 1-1. Munich would then try to pinch the win but Josh Redneck’s lob was tipped over and they then had to survive a chance for Delgado at the other end but he would mishit his effort and the sides would share the spoils. RDCM will be satisfied with his side’s position as they enter the midway point but they will understand the importance of their next match against Gooners on Tuesday. Dimentis will have been delighted with his side’s effort and performance in this match and they will now hope to capitalise by taking three points from their home match against Abu Dhabi.

The Kings would move up to fifth with a solid 2-0 home win against Juventus. With The Kings boasting an unbeaten home record the task was always going to be a tough one for Juve and so it proved. A free-kick on three minutes gave Pat van de Hauwe the chance to open the scoring but Tonetto made a fine save. However, they would get the lead on 22 minutes as a penalty was duly despatched by Gary Stevens who sent Tonetto the wrong way. The second-half saw more pressure from the home side and a free-kick by van de Hauwe needed watching closely by the ‘keeper. It would be 2-0 on 53 minutes, though, as Allan Akerboom headed home with some aplomb. Ralph Brooks nearly made it three but his header hit the woodwork while Akerboom couldn’t recreate his earlier finish. Juve’s only chance of the game was put wide by Jacobo Chacros and they slipped to a disappointing defeat. Hitman10 has his side in mean mood at home and they will need to maintain this as they entertain Bully Boys next. SuperJuve will be pleased to get back on home soil next and three points against Futsal will put a much more positive slant on their season.

The other game of the day saw Dream Team and Futsal fight out a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Dreams. With Dream Team coming into the contest in fine attacking form another positive performance was expected but they came up against a stubborn visiting side. Futsal actually had the first chance of the game but Samson Heskey’s drive didn’t trouble Delirious in goal. DT had their first chance on 25 minutes but Ronaldo Ready wasn’t accurate enough with his free-kick and the score remained goalless. Ready would have another chance five minutes later but Roberts made the save before Lewis Leopard missed the target with his shot. Ready would put one further opportunity over before the break and deadlock would accompany the referee’s whistle. Mil Moody put a diving header too close to Roberts to begin the second-half while Ready put a further free-kick straight at the ‘keeper. Futsal briefly broke away to give Rowley Forrester the chance from a set-piece but he put it over and the play swung back to the other end. Moody, however, would lob an effort over the bar before Ready was thwarted once more by Roberts from yet another free-kick. @peace will surely be disappointed with his side’s finishing but if they continue to create they will win more matches than not. Wildy continues to disappoint Futsal fans with his absence and it remains to be seen how long he has left at the club.