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Sun 08 Jan 2023
Druzhba FC
GAS III
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Match Report Druzhba FC – GAS III (0-2)
Marco Reichel15 Jan 2023 - 00:05
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On a warm and sunny January Sunday, GAS III gathered once again to face a well known ol’ opponent. Druzhba FC, weakend by some injuries, nevertheless binging some muscle to the pitch, was determined to make good for the 4:1 defeat in the first leg.
GAS III, equally well prepared with a 17-strong squad around Franz Kreuzpaintner, who was playing his final match in Singapore, lined up in the common 4-2-3-1 formation with Desmond in the center and Markus Brandt in forward position. Defensive axis started newly formed with Fabian and Nik Wolthuis as fullbacks.
The Russian match plan, supported by scouting observations from Dima at GAS III final training, was becoming obvious in the first minutes of the game: a compact defence, quickly supplying the fast strikers around Pacha upon ball turnover. Whilst the German defensive line was well sorted and withheld any build-up attack by the Sbornaya, these fast balls created some danger – forcing GAS keeper Christian Frank to an impressive over the bar save after 15 min. Druzhba corner Kicks also often became dangerous to the German goal. An early injury by debutant Valentin Teodoru was flawlessly equalized by the other debutant Florian Wallner on the halfback position – welcome and well done both of you!
Aside from these sporadic relief attacks, GAS III was clearly superior in holding the ball, displaying a structured forward game and creating chances. Mainly due to the Russian defence being strong in numbers but pushing up very high, 2-3 German long balls behind the defensive line constituted the biggest chances in the match. Unfortunately with 0 scored goals - unluckily, a sweeping shot by Markus Brandt ricocheted from a defender’s back and post away from goal, whilst 5 min later Markus fell short in a 1-1 against a fabulous move from the Druhzba goalkeeper.
With the first half coming to an end and an underserved 0-0 from Druhzba point of view, Desmond, who had problems dominating the center in between the tight defensive Russian lines, exploited a sloppy Russian defence moment and placed an impressive shot from about 20m underneath the bar – no chance for the keeper, 1:0 for the Deutsche Elf!
After midfield changes at halftime, the majority of ball possession remained with GAS III, however, highlights reduced significantly as both sides further tightened their defensive lines. It was a wholehearted counter-pressing moment of Thomas Corbett and Felix Kreuzpaintner, who smartly closed passing lines and pressured the goalkeeper to a sloppy pass that was intercepted and finished in an empty goal by Markus Almeroth. As Druzhba FC had no means nor strategy to further penetrate the German goal, the game - conducted in a self-confident manner by the referee - ended with a deserved 2:0 victory!
A perfect Sunday afternoon for GAS III and the departing Franz Kreuzpaintner, who gave a speech and numerous rounds of refreshments whilst many players joint his farewell-ceremony in the famous 3rd half of the game in a nearby hawker (all the best Franz!). Conclusion: The ball is round, der Zug hat keine Bremse and: after the match is before the match!
The Russian match plan, supported by scouting observations from Dima at GAS III final training, was becoming obvious in the first minutes of the game: a compact defence, quickly supplying the fast strikers around Pacha upon ball turnover. Whilst the German defensive line was well sorted and withheld any build-up attack by the Sbornaya, these fast balls created some danger – forcing GAS keeper Christian Frank to an impressive over the bar save after 15 min. Druzhba corner Kicks also often became dangerous to the German goal. An early injury by debutant Valentin Teodoru was flawlessly equalized by the other debutant Florian Wallner on the halfback position – welcome and well done both of you!
Aside from these sporadic relief attacks, GAS III was clearly superior in holding the ball, displaying a structured forward game and creating chances. Mainly due to the Russian defence being strong in numbers but pushing up very high, 2-3 German long balls behind the defensive line constituted the biggest chances in the match. Unfortunately with 0 scored goals - unluckily, a sweeping shot by Markus Brandt ricocheted from a defender’s back and post away from goal, whilst 5 min later Markus fell short in a 1-1 against a fabulous move from the Druhzba goalkeeper.
With the first half coming to an end and an underserved 0-0 from Druhzba point of view, Desmond, who had problems dominating the center in between the tight defensive Russian lines, exploited a sloppy Russian defence moment and placed an impressive shot from about 20m underneath the bar – no chance for the keeper, 1:0 for the Deutsche Elf!
After midfield changes at halftime, the majority of ball possession remained with GAS III, however, highlights reduced significantly as both sides further tightened their defensive lines. It was a wholehearted counter-pressing moment of Thomas Corbett and Felix Kreuzpaintner, who smartly closed passing lines and pressured the goalkeeper to a sloppy pass that was intercepted and finished in an empty goal by Markus Almeroth. As Druzhba FC had no means nor strategy to further penetrate the German goal, the game - conducted in a self-confident manner by the referee - ended with a deserved 2:0 victory!
A perfect Sunday afternoon for GAS III and the departing Franz Kreuzpaintner, who gave a speech and numerous rounds of refreshments whilst many players joint his farewell-ceremony in the famous 3rd half of the game in a nearby hawker (all the best Franz!). Conclusion: The ball is round, der Zug hat keine Bremse and: after the match is before the match!
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