Match Review: Hibernians FC vs Gaelic Lions FC

• GK Billy Wyatt
• DF Jamie Barnes
• DF Chaouki Saybi
• DF Joe Poulton
• DF Jack Graham
• MD Vasco Monteiro
• MD Julian Cardona
• MD Tiago Coelho
• ST Misra Maayan
• ST Daniel Martin
• ST Sergio Moreno

• MD Andrew Knott
• ST David Bolton
• -- Thorin Duffin

A Great Night for America

Nick was so happy after this one. Gaelic totally bossed us on the opening day, but on Friday night we had much more control and found some cutting edge to get through Gaelic's always solid organisation. The first half was fairly even. We maybe should have scored when Julian nodded down a cross. Dan's iffy shot was blocked, got stuck under his feet, then squirted between Thorin's legs. Galeic almost had a wow moment when a long-range effort whistled just off target. It looked like it was drifting to 0-0 at half time when we blocked a clearance by their centre back and managed to work the ball to Sergio in some space. Galeic recovered to block him running through on goal but that left Dan wide open in the middle. Sergio slotted him in to put a shot through the keeper's legs. In the second half it felt like we were initially more on top. Dan hit the post after a mix up in the Gaelic defence. Vasco caused a load trouble with his runs in behind after switching wings, but couldn't quite convert a couple of half chances. Gaelic also had their moments. I was taking off my boots on the sideline, so missed Jamie's tackle in the box that he and the ref said was clean, but Gaelic felt was not. It was debated into the night, but from a Hibs perspective the main thing was that Jack was nowhere near it. The internationalisation of the Hibs is a wonderful thing, and has made us a better football team. The flip side is having to watch Julian turn up dressed as America and blasting the Star Spangled Banner on his little speaker. Still, there's no choice but for the bench to erupt into chants USA! USA! like a bunch of idiots when he comes up with exactly what we need at the perfect time. Bolts did great work to cushion down a header, teeing up Julian to whip a dipping long-range volley just under the bar. 2-0 and some breathing room. We saw it out without too much more drama from there and went off to watch the greatest performance in US soccerball history. Hibs MoM goes to Tiago - dominating midfield at the moment. Panda ran him close. For Gaelic it was Daiki, who was hard to deal with.

• Derek Cahill GK
• Louis Platt DF
• Ryan Gaughan DF
• Liam McGinley DF
• Adam Smith MD
• Dom Marwood MD
• Stephen Swords MD
• Chris Leighton MD
• Daiki Ishino ST
• Chris Keay --
• Allan O'Donahue --

• Paul O'Neil DF
• Ronan O Boyle ST
• Kazuki Sato-Brennan ST
• Sean Flanagan ST
• Daire Flanagan ST

Chances

Very enjoyable night at Turf city but ultimately disappointing with our 3rd loss of the season. Really good game and Hibs a far stronger side then we saw on the opening day. Lions got about our business early mind and in control with some good early chances. Hibs always looked dangerous and forced a few good chances and some early testers for Derek in goal. Daiki and Al were getting a lot of ball out wide, Daike had a brilliant solo run that ended with a placed finish just wide of the post. Al's Volley was a thing of beauty but just sailed over. Had a feeling the first goal would be massive for either team. It looked for all to see that it would be 0-0 at the half but some sloppy play at the back invited Hibs on us and they made us pay with a goal on basically the half time whistle. To walk in 1 down after a really good half was disappointing. The performance encouraging although we knew Hibs would continue to cause us plenty of trouble. Second half kicked off and Hibs prob started the best. Lions kept battling and Ronan who was a warrior up top all night got his Ankle hacked in the box but no whistle and I've already said way too much on that particular decision Hibs went two up quite soon after that, a brilliant dipping volley from distance that was only heading for one place and left Derek with no chance. Gaelic duly went kitchen sink, continued to make chances but couldn't manage even a late consolation with Hibs doing a very good job seeing out the game. Could have added to their lead as well, one in particular bouncing off the post and straight back into Dereck's grateful arms. Congrats to Nick and Hibs for a really good competitive game. Peno decision aside thanks to Brad and the officials for a well-run game, in the end lions have absolutely no one to blame but ourselves. Plenty of positives some great individual performances, Daiki was a massive threat all night and our Midfield trio exceptional. Dom got the nod last week, I could go Smithy MOM every week but this week we will go with Chris Leighton brilliant all over the park last night, link defense and mdfield as well as getting forward for some signature strikes and exquisite passing. Plenty of individual performances in Green as well but thought the #14 in particular at the back had a near flawless game and set the tone for a very good Hibs performance.