The German Swiss Old Stars assembled a strong squad of seventeen players for Saturday morning’s matchup against the Gaelic Lions. Eager to bounce back from last week’s narrow defeat, the team entered the match with clear determination and renewed focus. From the warm-up, the energy and cohesion within the group were evident.

We lined up with Uwe and Chris as holding midfielders (“sixies”) to stabilize the defense and control the tempo of the game from the outset. In central defense, Kris K. and Rudi commanded the back line with composure and leadership, while our attacking duo of Urs and Micha pressed to apply early pressure on the opposition. This tactical setup was designed to dominate the midfield battle and dictate the rhythm of play.

From the opening whistle, we controlled possession confidently, maintaining discipline, patience, and a solid defensive structure. Our midfield unit transitioned effectively, moving the ball across the flanks and opening spaces behind the opponent’s defense. Within the first 15 minutes, our dominance was clear, as we created promising chances - David nearly scoring in the 3rd minute and Urs coming close again around the 10th minute.

However, against the run of play, a brief lapse in defensive concentration around the 18th minute allowed the opposition their first real attempt on goal, which they converted to take a 1–0 lead. The setback came as a surprise, but the team reacted immediately with determination and fighting spirit.

Our response came quickly through a well-executed corner, when Kris K. rose impressively above the defenders and powered home a header for the equalizer - showing strength, timing, and commitment. The momentum was now entirely on our side. Shortly afterward, a dynamic run from Ryo from his right side into the middle broke open the defense, and he sealed the comeback with a superb left-footed strike to make it 2–1. The goal displayed excellent individual football skills and composure, giving us the lead heading into halftime.

As the sun emerged in the second half, we initially struggled to regain our rhythm. A series of misplaced passes and unforced errors in midfield broke our flow and allowed the opponent to stay in the game. Although the Gaelic Lions created few real threats, our inability to capitalize on possession and finish our chances proved costly. We lacked the sharpness in the final third that had defined our play in the first half.

In the closing minutes, another turnover in midfield on the left side gave the Lions an opportunity to counter. They delivered a well-timed cross into the box, and defensive indecision led to a late equalizer just before the final whistle. The match ended 2–2. A disappointing result given our long stretches of dominance.

After two consecutive matches where victory was within reach, dropping four points is certainly frustrating. Nevertheless, the performance showed encouraging signs of progress in structure, teamwork, and attacking intent. The focus now shifts to converting control into results and maintaining full concentration until the end of each match.

Ryo’s relentless work rate and series of powerful runs down the right side of midfield created continuous pressure on the opposition. His outstanding performance and decisive goal earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match award.