Match Review: Swiss FC vs Gaulois Sports Club

• DF Cyrill Binder
• DF Muhammad Fadhil
• MD Paul Le Helloco
• -- Julian Rehkopf
• -- Sean Sukarman
• -- Marc Fink
• -- Topher Stokkmo
• -- Heinz Braegger
• -- Roman Spirig
• -- Basil Gygax
• -- Felix Reike

• DF Laurent Brutsch
• -- Takayasu Yamamoto
• -- Jerome Sukarman
• -- Urs Brutsch

A false start

After a very difficult 2016/2017 season, which saw Swiss finish at the bottom of the league for the very first time in the history of the league, the mercato was even more difficult. Four players were picked up by other Cosmo League teams, which is obviously not helping to make the league more balanced. Before anybody reminds me that we live in a free world, I know that, but if the top teams in the league plunder the better players from the lower teams you will get what we have today in the Premier League. 3 or 4 teams who compete for the title, and the other teams basically making up the numbers - not an entirely positive outcome for any league. As a small team we had to look for other sources to beef up the squad. And we went for youth. Five players in the squad on Saturday were 18 years or younger. But back to the moaning for a moment: one of our new signings broke a bone in his foot in the Wednesday training session, our young GK injured his thumb in the training session Saturday morning and was visibly handicapped. And to make matters worse, one of our senior players had to throw up before and during the game. Not ideal for a team which is already with the back against the wall. The team prepared well and was fired up to get a good start into the new campaign. The coach laid out a game plan, but that was pretty much outdated after three minutes, when OG took the lead. The Swiss defended well and looked well organized in the back, until a long ball was played into the back of the full back and clinically volleyed home for a 2:0 OG lead. That was when the Swiss had their best moments and we should have reduced the deficit, but Marc narrowly missed twice. Two lapses of concentration before the break allowed OG to race into a 4:0 lead by halftime. Halftime talk was that we are unlikely to win this game, but that we want to win the second half. But again OG scored early. This time within 60 seconds of the re-start. OG added 3 more by the 60th minute for the final score line, which is pretty brutal. The good news for Swiss is that the team never gave up and heads did not really drop. On that form OG is a real contender for the title this year. They were clinical, well organized and their long balls from the back were superb. Well done! For Swiss this was just one game on the way to building a new team and a new spirit. We will be back against Nippon next Saturday – maybe with some new signings post the transfer deadline….

• Christophe Aprile GK
• Oussama Labib DF
• Nordine Talhi DF
• Robert Eziakor ST
• Jeremy Dreux --
• Ntoudi Mouyelo-Katoula --
• Bengi Monzini --
• Philippe Guerrand --
• Mab Dousen --
• Remi Tache --
• Iliass Tamime --

• Francois Bazin MD
• Thomas Vacher MD
• Maxime Segura --

OG in form

After our first good start of a season since 1987, everyone was eager to confirm our good form against the Swiss. It is a game we took very seriously (apart from the fact we forgot the kit on the side of the road when going inside the bus). Swiss caused us trouble last season at times and we were really focus early in the game not to let that happen. We took the lead early in the game thanks to a beautiful volley from new joiner Jeremy, which made the game easier for us later. We managed to secure a few other goals thanks to Rob, Remi and Iss to make it 4-0 at half time and almost seal the game. Second half was more or less identical for the first 20min and OG scored another 4 via Rob, Max, Ouss and Iss again to secure a good 8-0 win. Swiss woke up in the last 20min and managed to get a bit more possession but not enough to get a consolation goal despite 2 chances from Urs. Credit to the Swiss who despite the event and score line never gave up and never complained. I am sure with such a young team they will have better days. Well done OG and especially Philippe who played his last game with us today. A massive lost for us. MOM for Swiss is to reward their keeper who despite the goals and his young age did not give up. He actually throws the ball with his hands further than Chris with his feet… MOM OG has a few contender: Ouss managed to score his first goal along with a good performance as a winger, Philippe for his 2 years playing impressive football with us, Rob and Iss for a brace of goals each but it has to go to Mab who did not bargain for the votes after the game… Next week SCC; a massive test for us with a few players missing or injured. Thanksfully we can count on the return of Sebi la Fleche…