Match Review: SCC Firsts vs German-Swiss All Stars

• GK Ronnie Smollett
• MD Tim Walter
• MD Enrique Sanchez
• ST Liam Shotton
• -- Adam Bowden
• -- Dan Rowands
• -- Mike Hemmingway
• -- Jack Cullinane
• -- Ross Plain

SCC v GAS 18 March

Saturday was perfect football weather as the German All Stars and SCC kicked off at Dempsey. The first 30 minutes were frenetic as both teams tried to put their stamp on the match. Most chances fell to SCC through Kike, a mazy run lacking a right foot finish early on and a sublime set piece that struck the under side of the crossbar, until Jack broke the scoreline through a left footed bomb from outside the area. Just before halftime Tim Walters picked out Kike with a precision pass over the top only for Kike who put his outrageous skill on display with a quick touch to control and immediate chip over the on rushing keeper. Though it may read different the first half of the match was not as exciting as the literary masterpiece of this match report and ended 2-0 to SCC. The second half kicked off with much of the same frenetic play with only the occasional SCC opportunity on goal. The dynamic of the match changed when interim of the interim gaffer Owen Monaghan introduced the age defying pace and athleticism of newly 37 year-old Matt Hulen. Like a moment of calm during a fierce battle, or a moment of clarity during a political shouting match, SCC changed their tempo and style of play. It is hard to recall what caused this change, but one can only point to the poise a savvy veteran making his way onto the pitch. SCC started to probe the Germans with intricate passing sequences that left Owen in tears of shear joy on the touchline. Not long after entering the pitch Hulen leaped well above the GAS defence and connected powerfully to a perfectly delivered corner from Ross. Needless to say the GAS keeper and defender on the post could only watch as the ball (with a visible jet stream in tow) struck the back of the net. A few more changes were made to ensure SCC controlled the remainder of the match with Owen opting again for pace and youth subbing both himself and Dominick Lane into the midfield. The match ended 3-0 to SCC. Credit to the German All Stars for their tireless work rate and stellar goalkeeping which kept the scoreline close.

• Takahiro Kawabata DF
• Marius Teich DF
• Antoine Croquette ST
• Stephan Lutz --
• Victor Walz --
• Per-Ola Roest --
• Alex Zuegel --
• Thommy Lim --
• Michael Klemm --
• Mark Leonhardt --
• Florian Gädke --

• Jason CHUA --
• Mauricio Roa --
• Michael Andria --
• Cyrille Brun --

SCC First too strong for German All Stars

After the last draw against Olympique Gaulois Singapore last Saturday, GAS was missing a couple of players and had to start with a new formation in this week’s match against the league leader SCC First. From the beginning SCC First came better in the game and tried to keep the ball continuously moving in their own rows. GAS on the other hand tried to stay compact and close off space. In the first 20 minutes this tactic worked quite well and GAS kept a clean slate. However, SCC First with a high percentage of ball possession throughout the whole game could pile up the pressure and create good chances in the first half and took the took the lead with a nice long-distance shoot in the top right corner after 25 minutes in the game. Afterwards GAS still defended well and did not let SCC create too many chances, but just before the half-time whistle received the second goal after a long pass into the penalty area and a copper over the keeper. The second half began with a good start by the German All Stars, who tried to keep the ball within their team and build up more pressure. Unfortunately, they could not utilize it, because many passes were too inexact and the attacks to ineffective. After 15 minutes SCC took again the leading role in the game and determined the game with a series of passes in their midfield. So after 75 in the game GAS obtained the third goal after a corner. In the end, it was a deserved victory for the guys from SCC who showed a solid game and were well organized during the whole game. GAS must now focus on the next game to bring home the 3 points. Thank you SCC First for a fair game!