Young Guns vs. Boroondara Eagles 25.07.09 (A) - 7:1 (1:0)
As of today it might be official: The Young Guns are the top team of their U9/U10 competition. With class and style they have also defeated the strongest contender in the league, the Boroondara Eagles. After a tough and very equal first half, the Guns also won their 10th game in a row with a decisive 7-1.
After a confusing ride there and only a short, but intensive warm up we had all players lined up for the challenge with the Eagles. Like in training over the last few weeks, the main topic during our tactic talks before the game was all about “defending”. This mainly as we knew that the Eagles are a very strong team in their attacking game. Callum in goals as well as Moritz, Ryan, Corey, and Nick in defence were our backbone in the 1st 25 minutes. The creative part of the team was built around Alex, Josh, and Victor in midfield as well as Justin and James up front.
The countless supporters were nervous when skipper Victor shook hands with the ref and the Eagles’s captain. Winning the toss hopefully was a good omen. And exactly as they finished last week’s game, the Guns also started this one. With a lot of pressure and some good combinations. In the first 3 minutes Moritz and Alex already released some early warning shots for the Eagles, but their bullets were both mastered by Boroondara’s goalkeeper.
Especially in the 1st 15 minutes the game went back and forth. The Eagles themselves put some good-looking strings of passes together and constantly caused danger in front of our goal. Their corners flew like rockets through our box and we had to put everything we had into the battle to avoid a goal against us. Callum was incredibly busy although the defender in front of him did an outstanding job today, always keeping their positions and facing their opponents without any fear.
Victor over the left wing as well as Josh and Alex over the right wing made perfect use of the space they had. James and Justin on the other hand constantly caused a lot of confusion in Boroondara’s backline. Our midfielders and forwards did a great job to keep the pressure on the Eagles in a manner that often left them with no chance to get the ball out of their own half. Josh and Alex often intercepted either goal kicks or throw outs from the Eagles’ goalie and then passed the ball to our forwards or managed to finish an attack with good shots themselves.
After 10 minutes James showed quite some talent when he stopped a long and high goal kick from Moritz with his chest. Unfortunately the ball tipped a bit to far so that he couldn’t reach it anymore for a fine finish. Then, another 5 minutes later, it was up to Victor to finally ease some of the supporters’ tension. A wide throw out from the Eagles landed in front of his mighty left foot, one quick first touch, and then a big bang. With a hard high shot he left the goalkeeper no chance. 1-0, there was a big sigh of relief coming from team mates, parents, friends, and even more so from a very nervous coach.
But there were still some 10 minutes to go in the 1st half, and the Eagles had the strong breeze in their back. Ryan and Nick really had to be on their toes in every second. And they were. Ryan in right back and Nick in left back position proofed to be the reliable and tough defenders that everybody was hoping they would be. Both unleashed last second tackles against forwards that could not be stopped by our midfield. Corey and Moritz shared the load in the engine room working hard to let the game click between backline and attack.
There were a few more dangerous situations to survive after another 3 corners, but the boys did very well either getting a foot or a head in before one of the purple Eagles were ready to finish. Then the whistle for halftime brought us a welcome breather and gave us the possibility to regroup, grab some vitamin C shots, a few drinks and huddle together for a few more tactic talks.
The 2nd half then saw Alex taking on the challenge to play between the posts. As usual he did that with a big smile and a lot of enthusiasm. No wonder – as he had nothing to worry about given that he had one of the strongest backlines of the league in front of him. Josh took on the organization of the defence in engine, Victor, James, and Justin complemented him as full backs. Moritz, Corey, and Ryan moved further up front into midfield, with Nick and Callum taking on the spearhead position.
With the wind in our back we now quickly took control of the game. And so it was no surprise that the Guns not only showed some high level soccer qualities after the break, but also managed to quickly add some majors on to the scoreboard. Moritz unleashed a long throw down the line to Ryan who perfectly used his body to win a tackle. The ball landed in front of Corey, and only one tenth of a second in the back of the Eagles’ net. 2-0.
Only a few minutes later Moritz put down the ball for one of the many corners that the Young Guns achieved in this game. His high shot was deflected out of the Eagles’ box, but again too short, and like in the 1st half to Boroondara’s pity in front of Victor’s dangerous left foot. This time he didn’t even have to have a first touch control. No, with a big bang he bombed the ball pass the Eagles keeper for our 3rd major of the game. Now the supporters really were relieved and were looking forward to some more good-looking combinations.
The boys now really took control of the game, closing the Eagles down as soon as they had the ball. It was great to see that the boys took all the instructions very serious, especially the ones with the defending part. Usually, with a good lead in the back, they tend to get carried away a bit and forget their duties in the back. But today there were only one or two occasions where the positioning and individual defending behaviour could have been slightly better. Nevertheless, also Alex had to be on his toes all the time to help out wherever required.
Then it was again Corey’s turn to shine. A throw out of the keeper couldn’t go pass him, and like Victor before he extended our lead with a skilful first touch and a quick and hard finish to 4-0.
Now everybody thought that this cheese is eaten and it would only be a matter of time until goal after goal would follow suit. However, then the Eagles reminded us that they are a very strong and powerful team as well. First Justin could stop a break through by the purple No. 11 in the very last second. But then, only a few moments later their No. 7 appeared all by himself in front of Alex. Although he tried his best he could not avoid the goal against us.
However, that should have been it for Boroondara in today’s game. After the 4-1 the Young Guns clearly were not willing anymore to let the Eagles get through. James and Justin with strong tackles and good bodywork. Victor with enormous speed, and Josh with skilful dribblings in the backline demonstrated to them who was in control for the rest of the game. From now in it was all Young Guns from here.
Josh won the ball in our own half and sent Moritz down the left wing. He dribbled the ball around 2 defenders and passed the ball with his weaker left foot into the center. There was Cal already waiting to say thank you. Being faster than the goalkeeper he pushed the ball over the line with his knee. A great goal resulting from a fantastic team effort.
A few minutes later it was about time for the goal of the day. Ryan prepared himself for just another corner from the right side. His high ball was kicked out of the box, but on the halfway line blocked by Bobby. The ball bounced to Victor how booted it up high in the air back into the direction of the Eagles’ goal. Moritz was there waiting for the ball come down from high in the air taking it volley with his right foot. Was it luck or skill, we don’t know. But the ball went flat into the left corner for our 6th goal.
Then it was only a few minutes to go, but still enough time for another highlight. Nick won the ball and passed it on to Cal. Cal did not wait for too long and saw Corey in front of goals. A quick pass, a soft touch, and a classy finish. Here it was, another hat trick for one of our boys, and the 7th and last goal for us in this game. But it was not only the 3 goals, it was more his outstanding team play that earned Corey the man of the match award today.
That was it for then. The final whistle ended another fine performance of the Young Guns. Next week we are back home again at Larpent against Riversdale before we’re heading towards our real challenge for the year in 2 weeks form now. We will then be facing Richmond 1, a team from the Kangaroo’s competition. That will be a real hard test for the boys and it will show us if we are already good enough to match up against the best teams of our age group. It will be tough, but every game starts with 0-0. If we keep our spirit and continue with the passionate and enthusiastic way on how we approach the game this year, who knows… maybe the Young Guns can deliver a real surprise.
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