Match Review: German-Swiss All Stars vs TGA Rangers FC

• DF Alex Baesel
• DF Dennis Kittel
• MD Nick Hennies
• ST Anthony Wilson
• -- Arnaud Houles
• -- Sam Packer
• -- Deldar Kayvon
• -- Florian Aubert
• -- Jannis Becker
• -- Joe Giani
• -- Mark Leonhardt

• DF Matthias Bertl
• DF Laurent Brutsch
• MD Gullzar Khan
• -- Simon Murtagh

The TGA Draw that felt like a Loss

GAS started this one with good shape and organisation. The back line proved up to the task of containing the Ranger’s strike force, and showed good immune response in mounting several counter attacks. Before too long, Kayvon smartly slipped the ball through to Flo, who broke through from his new role on the left, and with a cool finish put the ball in the net, 1-0 to GAS. The second half started much the same as the first with the German back line soaking up pressure and looking to release Arno and Kayvon when possible. After doing a stellar job of neutralising the Ranger’s danger-man with excessive hassling, Nick would be the one to deliver a deflected ball into the path of the in-form Flo who would bury the chance for 2-0. The German’s felt the points within their grasp but as the weather took a turn for the worse, so did their prospects; TGA brought on some fresh legs with Verrill, who within a matter of minutes broke free and with a tidy finish started the comeback. GAS would be delivered another blow with 15 minutes still to play, Kayvon picked up the second in a pair of soft yellows and would be asked to go and self-isolate in the comfort of an early bath. With this, the prospect of catching Rangers on the counter again crumbled faster than Basti’s hamstrings, and GAS would have to submit to grounding all non-essential trips up the pitch, sitting tight, and hoping it would all blow over. After defending a barrage of free kicks and corners, and forcing Joe into one or two signature leaping saves, the Ranger’s breakthrough finally came once again through Verrill who found himself free at the back post, floating the header back across the keeper into the net. 2-2; a well fought battle from both sides.

• Fraser Anderson DF
• Hiromitsu Nakaue DF
• Chris Jones DF
• Patrick Fox DF
• Rich Sexton MD
• Nathan Bryer MD
• Jonathan Lukito MD
• Mike Sharples ST
• Aaron Clancey-Agius ST
• Max Gray --
• Rob Whitworth --

• Taishi Fukuda DF
• Victor Felicia MD
• Nick Verrill ST

Another 3pm kick off with the weather a lot kinder than the absolute ripper of a day against the Gaelics (most of us are still recovering from heat stroke). In true TGA style we tried to make life very difficult for ourselves, against the ever improving GSAS. With the pitch slicker than JCs dance moves in Lulus, we were looking forward to getting the ball on the deck and playing our natural game. This of course did not happen and we were quickly behind when GSAS slipped the ball through to the left winger who was left in acres of space and finished beyond Whitlad. TGA were piling on the more pressure but unable to penetrate their resolute backline, with a mixture of poor execution, decisions that could have gone our way and solid defending on the current menu. HT 1-0. Business was resumed in the second half, TGA trying to put more pressure on but not really getting the break we needed to get back in the game. On a swift counter attack, GSAS managed to find themselves, via a deflection, through on goal again and the left winger found a way past Whitlad’s massive calves to make it 2-0. The rain then came to the party and made life very difficult for both teams. Supersub Nick V, fresh from being released from CBD Wanderers duties, then came on for the tireless Aaron to swoop up some space and, in partnership with Victor, took the game by the scruff of the neck. Quite quickly from 2-0 down it was 2-2 near the end with two neat finishes from NV, his hat trick could have been completed but pulled another great chance just wide. Their striker got sent off near the end for 2 yellows, didn't really see it.... FT 2-2. Really entertaining game, great for the neutral and look forward to playing them again next season. GSAS MOM: Nick Hennies - did a great job keeping our sharp shooter quiet TGA MOM: Nick V