Match Review: FC Nippon vs German-Swiss All Stars

• -- Takuya ASUKABE
• -- Ryo SUZUKI
• -- Tetsu KAKIMOTO
• -- Takuya TAKAHASHI
• -- Wataru HASEGAWA
• -- Takao NAKASUJI
• -- Makito NAKATA
• -- Yoshiaki MOTOHASHI
• -- Shoma HIRATO
• -- Seiichiro OIYAMA
• -- Kei YAMAGUCHI
• -- Yusuke ISODA

• MD Seiji TACHIBANA
• -- Yu TAKADA
• -- Ryosuke SHIMADA
• -- Daisaku YOSHIMURA

New Strategy but

We have tried to use quick toward FW but didn't work well. Asukabe came back to Singapore after several rejection of US Visa. Our new strategy, less horizontal passes more kicks toward the goal didn't work well. German umber 17 did well to confuse us. It's a bit too far way to gain three point...

• Maik Schaefer --
• Stephan Lutz --
• Tatsuya Mizutani --
• Fumiaki OGURO --
• Jordan Fitzharris --
• Bastian Wolff --
• Dennis Mecklenburg --
• Michael Klemm --
• Jan Wiechmann --
• Thommy Lim --
• Phillip Von Pein --

• Quirin Regensburger MD
• Timothy Lee Shi Yuan --
• Juergen Stich --
• Oscar Moreno --

Three points and a clean sheet!

Despite record injuries this season, Germans assembled a strong squad for the 5pm kickoff against a young, competitive Japanese outfit. Coach Quirin instructed the team to play higher and right from the start, the Germans showed their desire to get the three points. The back four of Maik, Pipo, Meckes and Stephan kept the ball well, allowing the center midfield around Jan, Basti and Miso to build up the play and create several chances for Micha who came closest with a curled shot from the 18-yard box. After a strong first 25 minutes, Pipo agreed to a water break which gave our opponents an opportunity to re-organize and the Japanese came out better from the break, creating several chances, mainly through long balls to their fast and skillful No.6. In the second half, Germans got back on top. Challenges were won as the Japanese seemed to tire out. The GAS midfield combined well with Micha up front and the Japanese goalie had to defuse several one-on-ones in Manuel Neuer style. Our wingers, Jordan and Ogu, were starting to cause a lot of trouble for the Japanese defensive line. A wonderful cross from Jordan found Micha's head, and he just needed to nod the ball over the line, but the ball came with such force that Micha was unable to convert. The Japanese were still in the game and kept being dangerous from long balls, but Tommy and the back four were always a step ahead of our opponent. In the last 10 minutes, the Germans kept the pressure high. The team wanted the win and even Meckes interpreted his full back role offensively and irritated the opponents by showing up in their box on many occasions. It took until the last 10 minutes to get a result. Stephan played a nice through ball to Basti who chested the ball down before dishing it over to Jordan who calmly slotted in for the 1:0. Germans celebrated like they won the league and forgot to defend, allowing the Japanese a great chance immediately after the kick off. It was the Germans however, who finished off strongly. A nice free kick by Oscar found Basti who scored with a beautiful header in the dying minutes of the game. The referee blew the whistle, a deserved win for the Germans in a highly contested match with both sides working hard and playing physical football. Thanks to the Japanese for a good game. Third win for the Germans and another clean sheet, just in time for our sponsor's Oktoberfest at Brotzeit Vivo City. Special mention to Tommy and Pipo who still had energy left and impressed with a spirited performance until the morning hours.