Match Review: SCC Firsts vs FC Nippon

• GK Ronnie Smollett
• DF Jack Cullinane
• DF Jahan Rezai
• MD Anthony Garreau
• MD Tim Walter
• ST Liam Shotton
• -- Matt Hulen
• -- Andrew Hutcheon
• -- Ivor Teagle
• -- Mike Hemmingway
• -- Owen Monaghan

• DF Tim Mellet
• MD John Norfolk
• ST Aleksandar Duric
• -- Igor Ferriera

Honours shared after an exciting finale

SCC and Nippon shared the spoils in an entertaining encounter at Dempsey Field. Nippon started very brightly and pressed high which created an open game. Both teams had chances to score in a competitive first half but it was Nippon who went into half time in the lead after taking full advantage of a mistake by SCC. Nippon doubled their lead early in the second half after one of their strikers did well to avoid our defence. SCC pushed hard and after having a goal disallowed for offside got themselves to within 1 goal of Nippon after a Matt Hulen free kick. The equaliser came soon after. Matt Hulen was dragged down in the box and Jahan Rezai duly converted to make the score 2-2. We couldn't quite find the winner and thank Nippon for a competitive, enjoyable and entertaining game.

• Takaki NAKAMURA GK
• Tom Yoshida DF
• Ryuhei IKEDA MD
• Seiji TACHIBANA MD
• Wataru HASEGAWA --
• Satoshi KABAYAMA --
• Yuki SUGIMOTO --
• Masashi SUEHIRO --
• Tetsu KAKIMOTO --
• Daisuke NANAI --
• Hiroyuki UCHIDA --

• Ryuji KIBAYASHI MD
• Yasutaro FUJITA --
• Fumiaki OGURO --
• Kan YAMAMOTO --
• Ryota MURAKI --
• Daiki OKAMOTO --

FCN surprised SCC with an unexpected game.

FCN got the 2 goals first, but lack of experience of closing the game, they allowed SCC to grab 2 goals in the last 25 minutes. 1st half: The game started from SCC’s rhythm, using the field wide and leveraging side attacker’s mobility. They made a few attempts which were quite close to the goal. Once adjusting themselves, FCN gradually gripped their pace and applied their style. After making a few good trials (they were offside, though), they got the first goal from a short counter (Brilliant goal, Tetsu!). FCN worked hard and chased the ball to shut SCC out from the vital and this worked. 2nd half: The 2nd half unexpectedly started from another FCN’s goal from a FK (Thanks again Tetsu!). With confidence, FCN actively attempted to make the 3rd goal, but SCC showed their pride and shut us out. The latter half was SCC’s rhythm again and FCN struggled with their effective pass work. They allowed open space in some occasions and offence line of SCC effectively controlled game. SCC leveraged the heavy rain and made their 1st goal from a FK (the shoot-like ball hit FCN’s member and the ball changed its course to the goal). FCN worked hard to keep the score but they ended up to allow a PK and the score became 2-2 in the last minutes. The last 5-10 minutes was a see-saw game, both team showed their passion to get the 3rd goal, but eventually it ended 2-2.