Part 2 of 4 in the LTC series ends with honours even (while the Irish lose surprisingly at La Lo)

Line up:

K.Mercelis

D.Bernardo,J.Minne, J.Philpot

J.Gimeno, A.Hodgson (M.Billiet), N.Agily, R.McGeehan, J.Petersen (S.Lachia)

L.Novak, N.McGrath (D.Donner)

There are a few good events in the Fall season that don’t change over the years, one of these, it’s my match report against LTC1: 2016, 2018, 2019.

Another week and another LTC, after a well-deserved victory last game against LTC2, this time the British are facing a stronger opponent, hunger for victory, to reduce the gap of 5 points.

The preparation of the game was perfectly done, little aspects like being on time, concentration, work on our increased mojo with good music. A perfect way to get ready for this difficult game. On the other hand, I found it simpler to understand the story about the Shogun, than the fact that Form Follows Function; I thought it was just me and my sleepless nights, but actually it’s "an architectural phrase often heard, not well understood, and hotly discussed by students and designers for over a century.”... that explains a lot of our first 20 min played.

The game starts and the sliding Astro pitch suddenly introduces some difficulties to the good guys. It’s not easy to move the ball around and the pressure from the locals, sometimes, stresses the passes from left to right. LTC plays compact, the line of defenders high enough to condensate a lot of players in the midfield. As said, the beginning wasn’t the best part to watch, anyway it’s from a long ball that the Brits can move into the box with Joaquin, able to anticipate a defender and to serve Noah. His good short-distance shot is saved by the goalkeeper, but the LTC defender, ingenuously, grabbing down our Jack the Fury, forced the referee to whistle a penalty. From the 11 meters (12 yards for Jacob), the captain Minne’s (6) has the possibility to change the score, but his shot is stopped by the post. Still 0-0.

To the unlucky penalty, the injury of our "spearhead" McGrath complicates, even more, the situation. Donner (1) and Novak (-) up there trying to understand each other’s game, Noah and Hodgson more involved in marking the man than helping McGeehan. The British barycentre is too low to create an interesting chance to score, and it’s there than a weak pass from Minne to Philpot creates a chance to LTC. The striker in front of Mercelis decides to make an easy pass to the well-positioned teammate and it’s 1-0 for the locals.

Nothing is lost, there’s a lot to build, in fact, less than 10’ later, first a shot from far-away from Jacob then another good try from Daniel anticipate the moment of the goal that equalized the first half.

Captain Minne, our Inzaghi on free-kicks/corners, gets another ball anticipating all other defenders and his shot goes over the keeper, to a defender that can rebound it back, but nothing could do against the second attempt from our SuperLuka 1-1.

Second half starts with nothing special to report: Billet and Laicha for Hodgson and Petersen, and two "heavy” yellow cards for our Noah and James (missing next game). Only a good shot from Noah, deflected in the corner and an amazing save from Kris at the very last minute, deserve a mention. Final score: 1-1.

Defensively a pleasure to play and defend the point we could enjoy at the end of the season, for the supporters (including our sticker Godeau, or ex-striker Dries) not a super exciting second 35’.

Leagues can be won by just 1 point more than the others.

MOM & Reporter: Dex Bernardo