Ok, let me recover my breath. I am almost dying here. What… a …match! I knew YCIS would come with the desire to beat us after our match at their home and they just had yesterday a match against German school where they won 2 x 0, surpassing us in points so the match today meant being the leader of the league. On our side, it was the first time we were playing with our new jerseys with our names and also, for the first time, we had all players ready to play but still Kyra would play for the first after two weeks and Franziska could play only 5 minutes. On top of that, yesterday during practice, Marta felt a discomfort on her hamstring, not allowing her to sprint as she normally does.

The match started with them pressuring us non-stop. YCIS has incredible players that would fit in any all-star team like their #9, #10 and #8. They know how to pass, dribble and they can shoot from anywhere. The first good chance in the game was actually ours, when Marta crossed close to the ground and Kyra shot with the right foot and hit her own left foot, if she did not had turned, maybe she could had scored on the rebound. Don’t fool yourself, the match would not be easy. Three minutes after, their #10 got a nice shot and Inês deflected, then #8 shot and this time Suh-Young deflected. They know how to make the ball run. Kyra kept pressuring from the left side but she got tired after such a long time inactive, without a real match. I subbed her for Phoebe. On the 13th minute Marta won against the giant #14 and crossed in front of the goal but Phoebe was a bit late. Not much later, we finally exchange some great passing so Louise found Phoebe inside the box, she dribble one, shot at the goal but the goal did not hold and Hailey, very opportunistic, with her now-famous navel thrust, pushed the ball inside. 1 x 0.

With the score against them, YCIS pushed even further, and on the 18th minute the name of the match started to work. YCIS #9 pushed forward and from the mid offensive field, shot a ball at our lower left corner of the goal. Our Black Spider flew, throwing herself and saved it! Again, on the 20th, she dove this time on the right corner. By that time, we already conceded 3 corner kicks, more than we ever conceived in the whole season! Pure pressure from YCIS.

On the 25th minute one moment that a coach can be proud of; Kyra got the ball at the midfield, passed to Marta on the left and opened to receive on the same left while Marta pushed to the middle. The pass was intercepted but Marta fought for the ball, recovered and from the right side, crossed to Kyra, alone in front of the goal. She had just to push the ball inside. 2 x 0 SCIS. Nothing of much relevancy happened after that. One scary moment was when Katy and their #10 fought for a ball in the air and I had the impression that both of then hit their heads against each other and the #10 fell flat on her back. Having Kyra in our team, concussion is always a fear that I have and today I did not have my concussion card with me (sorry Kyra!) but next match it will be available.

Second half started with a magical moment; Franziska playing for the first time in the season! It was soooooo good seeing her playing with her German spirit of never giving up. Still, she needs to improve her timing but I could see she is ready to fight for a sport in the team. It’s a pity she will not play against German school this Thursday.

Of course for the second half, with nothing to lose, they pressured us even more and we suffered a ridiculous goal. Ball lifted in our box, everybody kicking everywhere, and with two minutes, their scored, 2 x 1.

Until we got our head back IN the game (correct, Sinead?) took a while. With 10 minutes of the second half, Louise with a precious pass from precisely the central circle, found Kyra on the left. She trapped the ball, and shot a slow ball on the right corner. Kyra’s second goal on the match. What a great comeback! 3 x 1.

If you think it was over… Far from it! Their #10 is amazing! She saved a lost ball close to the side line, dribbled Marta, dribbled Suh-Young and found their #8 alone in the box, who shot and scored their 2nd goal. We were a bit unlucky because the ball passed right underneath Louise’s foot but still, #8 should never be alone. And 5 minutes later, their third goal in an über mistake from our team. I had Katy and Suh-Young one in front of the other. Why? No reason for that. Their tall #14 was in front of Bella exactly to distract her. Bella has to go AROUND her. Big mistake from our side and now the match is 3 x 3 with still 23 minutes to go. From now on, it’s nobody’s territory, anybody could win and believe me, YCIS tried it all to win. On the 54th minute of the match, their awesome #10 shot a ball from far away but it was very tricky, bouncing and Bella stretched herself all the way to save on the bottom left corner. Amazing! Wait, there is more.. .#10, again, shoots on the bottom right corner but we have the Black Spider, and she saves the day once more.

At 60 minutes we had our first solid chance after so much pressure. Inês lifted the ball and Marta was one-on-one with defender #7 and the goalie but she shot out, something that rarely she does.

With 10 minutes to end the match, I thought all was lost. Phoebe jumps to deflect the ball and by accident, touches it with her hand, on the edge of the box line. It was almost a penalty kick. Their #14 was forcing Bella to stay fixed and I shouted my lungs out asking Bella to be in front of her. That’s when our Swedish Wall, our Black Spider showed all her personality and skills. She placed three players one side of the goal and stayed on the other. Their #10 shot on Bella’s side and she got it! This was an omen! We were not destined to lose that match. Not only that, we were predestined to win! With two minutes to end the match, Inês finds Louise with a side throw. My Danish Brain, between two YCIS players, finds who? MartaMessi. Even not being in her best days, Marta will not miss two opportunities in a row so she decide to end the match in great style, she dribbles #12 between the legs and with the coolness that only a català guerrer could have, she waited the goalie to choose a side and shot gently on the other one. It was incredible! The audience were in frenzy! With two minutes in the watch, there was not much YCIS could do but to try to digest how that happened.

I have to say, in my three years coaching, this was the most wonderful match I ever watched. A beautiful game played from both sides. A match that no matter who would win, would be fair. YCIS has as very strong team and we need to keep an eye on them for the SISAC tournament and we are getting closer and closer to win the league for the first time in three years. Three matches to go and next; The German School!

Bellatorum Invictum!

Goals: Marta, Kyra (2), Hailey
Assists: Louise (2), Marta, Phoebe
MVP of the match: Bella