Spotlight: Round 11

Among the highly-anticipated clashes this round were the season debuts of two new coaches in the top flight. Xmensch, having taken over The Vikings, would travel to Metelo Park to take on contenders Totaalvoetbal while Izuka, having just returned to the RMI, would take Flare United to Thundera Grounds to take on twice champions ThunderCats F.C who were fresh off the back of a 4-1 thrashing of OAP Pop Punk, Izuka's old side.

At Metelo Park, the hosts would start well with William Ralph Dean so enthusiastic on the attack that he was unsportsmanlike, and rightly earned a yellow card in the 7th minute. About 10 minutes later, though, Dean would make up for his light error with a volley from a Shirsh Vajpayee corner leading to the opening goal. Dean, however, would remain enthusiastic and went in hard on Anastasios Tassiopoulos, who had to be replaced by Gary Fieldwick with just under half an hour of the game gone. Dean's possible second booking went to The Vikings' Ferdinand Quinn, though, as the midfielder tried to rush the referee to book Dean while he was mulling things over in his mind.

One shot and one goal for Totaalvoetbal so far, and Pierre van Diemen went close to doubling the lead as the Dutch striker sent a long shot skimming over the crossbar just minutes after the restart. Antonello Ballarin would go one better than his colleague, the midfielder curling a first-time long shot into the top corner, Dean turning provider as his 51st-minute square ball provided the chance. The Vikings would claw a goal back as Ilmari Jukka's long ball forward was latched onto by Justin Portway in the 56th minute. Just 3 minutes later, though, Totaal would restore their 2-goal advantage as Ramiro Verona smacked a header from Cal Beardsley's cross straight through Dudley Connely's outstretched palms. Just a minute later, Ballarin nicked the ball off Portway on the restart and, spotting Connely off his line, curled a beautiful 40-yard effort just wide of the top corner. Quinn nearly pulled one back for the visitors as his 64th-minute freekick skimmed over the crossbar, reminiscent of van Diemen's earlier effort for the hosts.

With the game starting to wind down, The Vikings were content to keep the ball and salvage a little pride from a decent share of possession, picking up two more bookings in their efforts to keep the ball. Zlatan Izuhimovic nearly scored his first of the campaign as he side-footed a shot right into Connely and the keeper would make another brilliant save to deny Dean a headed goal. There was nothing he could do about Totaal's next chance, though, as Ballarin smacked a freekick right into the top corner. Final score: Totaalvoetbal 4-1 The Vikings.

Izuka, on his return to the RMI, opted for a very defensive 5-3-2 formation with his out of form side, with their opponents playing an offensive 4-3-3. It was a game of few chances as United packed all 11 men behind the ball, Izuka's exact instructions being to "play for a draw". Giorgio Blundetto would pick up a booking in the 7th minute for stamping, ThunderCats' Eric Cantona following suit 2 minutes later for dangerous play. A freekick for ThunderCats would then cause problems for United as goalkeeper Alex Bogefeldt ordered an 8-man wall, leaving United's experienced last man Gabriel Islas to pick up any stray Cats while Ernie Ormondroyd was poised for a quick breakaway on the edge of the centre circle. United need not have worried, though, as Bogefeldt, arguably the most worried player on the team in the situation, pulled off a fine stop to deny Raimundo Lange. Lawrie Gow would go off injured with under 10 minutes left to the break, leaving Izuka with no choice but to plunge young Alasdair Logan into the fray.

The first bit of action in the second half came close to the hour mark as United captain Ormondroyd was brought down in the penalty area and opted to take the spotkick himself. The captain was poised to carry out Izuka's orders to "play for a draw" and slide the ball right down the centre to Carlos Magro when he heard a stray call of "SHOOT!!!!" from the bench and cracked his World Cup edition Adidas Predator X's right through the ball, propelling it into the top corner. The hosts would pick up two more bookings, more specifically Marcelino Morte and Lange, as they fought to get back into the game but, like his Vikings counterpart, Izuka was content with his team playing to earn a larger share of possession. Sílvio Falcão had the best chance of levelling the scoreline but the striker, in his haste to crack the ball at Bogefeldt, was miles off target. Ashton Crosby would have the last chance of the game as he side-footed the ball into Magro.

A triumphant return for Izuka, while Xmensch was not quite so successful. Elsewhere, league leaders Arsenal DB lost 3-1 at Pahang United to blow the title race wide open, while a further combination of wins for Kirkbride, AFC Stanley and Splott Rovers blew the league table wide open, at the top and at the bottom.