Match Review: FC Nippon vs Olympique Gaulois Singapore

• GK Takaki NAKAMURA
• DF Osamu Akao
• DF Tom Yoshida
• DF Katsumi Oku
• MD Hiroki NARABAYASHI
• MD Javier Calvo
• MD Enrique Sanchez
• ST Takuya Hagino
• -- Takuya Matsushima
• -- Seito Yachimoto
• -- Nobu Honma

• MD Seiji TACHIBANA
• ST Oscar Lee
• -- Satoshi Hiraku
• -- Seiya Yokoyama
• -- Rui Suzuki

Another competitive game with our good rival

This was the third game with OG this season, ie the final match against the French squad. The first game was 4-5, second 3-3 and we all knew that this game will be another competitive one. The Japanese squad, with some new faces, were very motivated to get the first win against OG this season and we started the game in the right mood. As the weather was so sunny and we expected a tough game, we calmly started and tried to possess the ball and create the rhythm first. This worked ok and we made some chances but OG started the game tightly and we couldn't go much deep into their end. The first quarter was almost even but Nippon felt comfortable as this slow start was one of their strategies. Soon after the water break, Nippon managed to score the opening goal from a beautiful lobby feed from Nara, who constantly delivers great passes. Our speed star Yachimoto controlled the ball very well and sent a velvet touched last pass to Kike when everyone thought he would shoot, but Kike flicked it to Hagino who was completely free and he calmly put it into the goal net. 1-0. Nippon kept their focus and almost denied every offenses by OG after the goal, but in the very last minute, the dangerous dribbler on OG's left side (I think his name is JB), created a chance by cutting in and grabbed a free kick near the corner of the penalty zone. It was beautiful delivered and a pin point header punishes Nippon. 1-1. That was almost the end of the first half and Nippon reconfirmed their strategy to start an even better second half. In the second half, Nippon turned aggressive and used more long balls to push down the OG defense line. OG's defense line was tall, so it was not easy, but Nippon created a few opportunities of which one of them became a goal. A beautiful feed from Katsumi, the right side back, reached Kike where he made a great first touch and just calmly stroked it into his previous team's goal. 2-1. Nippon made a couple of dangers even after the goal, but unfortunately, they didn't go through and in return, it received a lot of middle shots and corner kicks. Some of them were actually very close, but the Nippon defense line and GK remained focused and managed to shut out. The last 5-10 minutes of the game became very intense, OG trying so hard to grab a goal and Nippon trying to finish the game. In the end, the ref's whistle informed the game was over. There was an aggressive tackle by an OG member in the last minute which resulted in a red card, but thankfully no injuries on both sides. Overall, it was a very good game played under good sportsmanship and we always enjoy it playing with our long time rival. Thank you OGS and also a big thanks to the referees!

• Christophe Aprile GK
• Francois Pannetier DF
• Francois Casimont DF
• Inaki Moreno DF
• Francois Bazin MD
• Jean-Baptiste (JB) Bois MD
• Thibaud Lespayandel MD
• Ewan Radde MD
• Amine Cherif MD
• Dani Pardon ST
• Hugo Tauler --

• Ivan Gosio DF
• Valentin Biyong MD
• Unni Kazhakkumara MD
• Santiago Sanguinetti MD

Missed Opportunity

This game that was the last one for our famous HT9 is a bitter pill to swallow one more time for OGS. Despite a slow start under a burning sun and a goal conceded, OGS came back strongly in the game with a beautiful cross from Inaki to find JB’s header. We had the momentum till half time and did not conceded a lot of chances and tried our best to play high and put pressure on the Nippon’s defence. Unfortunately, we came back lethargic from the break and conceded the second goal. Some say a hand was there on the control, which led to the goal… tough call for the ref. Past this 15-minute coma we put all our strengths in the battle, with at least 10 concrete chances and repetitive attacks to equalize which we manage to do to see the goal disallowed. Our vet team, which was on the offside line, clearly think that the goal should have been validated… Again, tough call not in our favour and Takaki was heroic to keep the score to 2-1. We left the pitch utterly disappointed and headed to Hugo’s career celebration forgetting this game in beer and pastis! Thanks to Nippon FC for a great fight and good luck for the rest of the season