The British derby

For some context:

It is a rainy day in Belgium I know - shock and the team is getting ready for the mighty English derby on away ground against "British United”. We come to a wide grass pitch where on one side it’s already a swamp. With all the 11 players ready, the starting line up looks like:

3-5-2

Romain

Jonass - Martin - Benjamin

Sjoerd - Victor - Alfonso - Peter - Daniele

Charlie - Miguel

First whistle:

We start energetic and full of energy by dominating the first minutes. First few long passes cut trough the opponents defence like hot knife trough butter. For this amazing start we get rewarded by a few corners and after an unsuccessful first cross Daniele gets a second chance to whip it in. This cross falls beautifully on Charlie's head who heads it in the back of the net.

The perfect start: 0-1

The opponent understands his weakness and shifts players accordingly to cover the long ball opportunities.

After the first goal the game evens out and the ball bounces from one side of the pitch to the other. Ultimately this results in goal scoring opportunities for the home team. After a couple of saved chances the unfortunate time of hearing the opponent cheer came. They cross the ball from corner, they head it towards the goal and score. The frustrating thing being, that an opponents player fell on the goal line blocking Daniele from saving our clean sheet.

Half time: 1-1

At half time the team seems determined to get back on the winning way. Few comments get passed around on the running track that’s outside the field, because of no substitutes bench.

The second half starts and the same old back and forth from one goal to the other starts. No teams is ready to loss the game and it shows. We keep applying pressure and there are only few times that the opponent isn’t challenged when the ball is passed or in the air.

Our efforts lead to a corner that is headed to the goal. One of the defenders touches the ball with his hand. The referee whistles for a penalty.

Miguel steps up, but because of the soft ground that keeps getting worse, the ball hits the post and bounces to the opponent.

There is a saying in Latvian football "If you don’t score, then the opponent will”. This unfortunately came true when "British united” got a free kick just outside the penalty area. After a what looked to be a scuffed shot, the ball roles and jumps on the grass pitch and goes in by hitting the post.

What should have been a 1-2 turns into 2-1 for the opponent.

After this the team gives even more energy than before, but time is not our ally. With all the effort and energy put in, this turns out as a disappointing defeat in such a symbolic match. Sometimes even when you fight as hard as you can, luck just isn’t on your side. On such a pitch any team could have won.

Plus, another loss was one of the studs from Pete’s cleats. Double defeat.

Not a debut result that I would have liked, but the game fought heroically.

Your MoM,

Jonass