GAS arrived with a strong lineup and plenty of subs, while the British Club fielded a team with a very broad age range—anywhere from about 17 to mid-40s. GAS welcomed two first-timers: Elias in central midfield and Hugo on the wing.

Physically and sub numbers wise, it was an even matchup. The pitch was wide, the sun relentless, and there was no shade. GAS made full use of the deep bench, rotating frequently to cope with the heat.

The first quarter saw GAS create several half-chances. Long balls were a common tactic, but the British Club’s defenders handled them well. The opponents used a similar strategy, swinging long diagonal passes from midfield toward their wingers cutting inside. While they reached the box fairly often, solid positioning and strong headers from the GAS back line kept danger to a minimum.

The pattern continued into the second quarter until a free kick gave the British Club the lead. A quick reaction on the second ball after Aravind’s initial save caught GAS off guard.

After a much-needed halftime break, GAS came out firing in the third quarter with sharper passing and higher tempo. Markus struck twice in quick succession to flip the scoreline, and Chris nearly added a third with a shot that rattled the crossbar. It was an impressive power-play spell and great to watch.

In the final quarter, GAS focused on protecting the narrow lead. The extreme heat slowed offensive play, though a few promising counters still emerged. Corners became a concern, with one of the taller opponents twice heading just over the bar. Aravind made a key intervention on a dangerous second ball, and a tense last-minute corner brought back memories of the game two weeks ago—but this time, GAS held firm.

All in all, it was a fun but exhausting match against fair opponents and a deserved win for GAS. Special credit to the debutants for strong performances and Chris B for hist last game with us. Key takeaways: corner defense remains an area to tighten up, and a few players could use extra practice on throw-ins.