Match Review: FC Nippon vs 1TM Latini FC

• GK Takaki NAKAMURA
• DF Yuki Ichikawa
• DF Katsumi Oku
• MD Indra Putra
• MD Ryuhei IKEDA
• MD Takuto Furuya
• MD Jaume Ferrer
• MD Seiji TACHIBANA
• ST Takuya Hagino
• -- Jo Kagitani
• -- Shuhei Goto

• DF Tomonari Abe
• MD Carman Koh
• -- Shota Adachi

Another competitive match

Nippon was forced to take on the top ranked team Latini with a unusually small squad with some late arrivals. Everyone knew it will be a very challenging game and so was it. The game started with an early goal by Indra who captured a miss pass in the middle and calmly shot in the back of the net. 1-0 Although we had to let Shuhei leave the pitch due to an unfortunate injury, Nippon continued good football after the goal. Jo took over Shuhei's right back position and did a great job to stop Latini's ace forward Mike. However, steadily, Latini regained their usual style Nippon was punished by a penalty kick in the mid of the 1st half. 1-1. Nippon's reaction was not bad and the 2 short forwards Takuto and Seiji showed great combination to score the 2nd goal in the first half. 2-1 Latini stood strong however, and leveraged their height to equalise from a corner kick header. 2-2. In the 2nd half, with some injuries, Nippon gradually lost their pace and Latini started to control the game. An accurate shot just outside of the penalty zone let the keeper stretch to the right and although he managed to stop it once, Latini forwards managed to kick it in again. 2-3. Nippon reacted well and caused many threast after that, but Latini defence line and keeper demonstrated great defence and we couldn't breakthrough. In the final few minutes, Latini made a quick counter attack and the ace forward slotted the ball into the side net. 2-4. Well done Latini as usual and thank you for the great game, Special thanks to the league committee who did great work to secure a nice pitch!

• Pete O'Brien GK
• Jordan Laing DF
• Ben Tomlinson DF
• Jonathan Baker DF
• Fraser Anderson DF
• Sam Balls MD
• Jamie Roberts MD
• Yuto Nagai ST
• Jacob Saurin ST
• Mike Sharples ST
• Ben Marshall ST

• Jonathan Cloak DF
• Taishi Fukuda DF
• Joshua Welch MD
• Joe Moriarty MD
• Leo Rocha ST

SOCCER BALL

Match Day 12 saw 1TM kick off at the new location of Singapore American School. Huge credit to OG’s Francois for securing pitches after the sad closure of Turf City. The Eagles Nest is a fantastic facility! Tactical Tally was able to assemble a fantastic squad for the first match of 2024 but when you’ve had 5 weeks off through an indulgent Christmas period, the energy of FC Nippon means they aren’t the ideal opponent to face. The game plan of a fast start went awry inside the first 2 minutes as it was evident that a bit of rust had set in. Nippon took full advantage through some early high intensity pressing; they won the ball back on the edge of our 18 yard box and their forward passed the ball coolly into goal, clipping the post on its way in. 0-1 1TM began to build some momentum but Nippon were proving to be a threat each time they ventured forward. After one of their attacks broke down on 22 minutes, POB hoofed the ball upfield and Pig did really well to steer it into the path of Sharples. As Sharples tried to round the ‘keeper, he was brought down in the area by the covering defender. The penalty was well blocked by the ‘keeper but Sharples finished the rebound. 1-1 Nippon proved that we were going to be in for a tough game when on 28 minutes their forward line came again and played some nice intricate passes that put their striker through on goal and he found the corner of the goal with a well taken strike. 2-1 1TM were beginning to play some better football and start to create chances. A sweeping move from our touch line led to a shot that was blocked and went out for a corner. Another great Dev delivery was met by Sacred Cow with a solid header to bring the score level again just before half time. (2-2) In second half, Nippon played deeper and invited us on to hopefully beat us on the counter. 1TM used the possession well and looked threatening in our opponent’s box but couldn’t find that third goal. It was Nippon who almost took the lead when a deft pass split our defence and the Nippon striker was through 1v1. Fortunately, POB made himself big and blocked the effort. In the next passage of play, Sherlock found space on the edge of the area to take a shot on which was well saved by the ‘keeper. Fortunately, the Pig Machine, who didn’t give up on any cause all afternoon, was first to meet the rebound and got the goal his effort deserved. 2-3 Both sides exerted pressure on each other in the closing minutes and both sets of players could have added to their tally. Notable mention for Josh when he came on who was a real threat on Nippon’s goal and unlucky not to have scored. On 90+2, we finally put the game beyond doubt when the excellent Boggy was played through and then crossed to an unmarked Sharples. This season’s number 11 controlled well and finished into the bottom corner. Well played Nippon - there was some mesmerizing play from your players at times and you were an entertaining team to watch. Credit to the officials for managing the game and a massive thanks to the whole squad as the game changers made the difference when legs were tiring. Nippon MOM - 1TM MOM - Pig DOD - Yuto San Kit - POB