Match Review: Gaelic Lions FC vs FC Nippon

• GK Derek Saw Wen Yu
• DF Hans Van Den Hoogen
• DF Tom O'Donnell
• DF Josh Smith
• MD Adam Smith
• MD Jack Skok
• MD Dom Marwood
• ST Xavier Sproule
• ST Alex Bertholon
• ST Eoghan Jackson Ryan
• ST Ronan O Boyle

• DF Paddy Bourke
• MD Stephen Swords
• ST Darragh Burke
• ST Oscar Lee

Doggies for 90!!

Always think after playing Nippon it would be great for the lads to wear a gps strap for one game only and see how much distance is covered. Doesn’t matter when we play them, it feels like we are doing doggies for 90 minutes straight - or stuck in the middle of an unforgiving rondo chasing endlessly. This being said, our game plan today was all about our shape without the ball. We knew when we managed to turn the ball over, we had the firepower and physicality to hurt, and patience was going to be key for us to get any success out of the game. The boys nailed it, to an absolute T. Yes, Nippon had more of the ball, but our discipline and shape meant when we did win the ball in dangerous areas, we could then counter quickly . Alex, Xavier, Eoughan and Ronan all causing problems for the opposition back line and our defensive line standing strong limiting Nippon to any clear cut chances. The first goal came from A quick counter which saw Xavier break down the left before squaring the ball to boyler who finished nicely high into the net adding a fifth of the season to His tally. The second coming from a long diagnal from Smithy, finding the dangerous Alex who broke away and finished nicely. A really pleasing performance and result. Up the Lions!

• Tatsuki Fujiu GK
• Takahiro Yuki DF
• Yuki Ichikawa DF
• Katsumi Oku DF
• Taku Nagaura DF
• Seiji TACHIBANA MD
• Takuto Furuya MD
• Shohei Dobashi MD
• Hiroki Saito ST
• Takuya Hagino ST
• Daiki Ishino ST

• Tomonari Abe DF
• Shungo Sakamoto MD
• Daichi Okamoto ST

Painful loss

The Japanese started the game with focus and motivation to smash the Gaelics. Although the football was decent and Nippon made number of opportunities, they were punished by the Lions three forwards playing efficiently and sharply. Either side could have won, but the result was 0-2 and Nippon was forced to go down the league ranking. Well deserved win and we look forward to playing next round. Thank you to the refs as well.