HIS is traditionally a team in formation. Considering that it’s a small school, it’s hard for them to put a varsity team together. There were players not even using football cleats to play. Last year they finished the match 10 minutes early because the referee considered very unbalanced the match, even with Kyra (traditionally a left wing) as a goalie and Marta (traditionally a striker) as a defender and Bella (our goalie) as a striker.
With that in mind, I’ve decided to change some things around. We started the match with Mikayla as the goalie this time. I want to see how both Mikayla and Bella can hold a position as defenders. As goalie, I know both are awesome. Mikayla did an excellent job against SCIS Pudong and now was the turn to see Bella as a defender.
Together with Bella was our Petit-Pois Emma debuting with our red jersey. On the left, Sinead, Inês center and Alice on the right. Franny Skywalker was our striker.
We started the match with our traditional style; full pressure since first second. The problem is that took 9 minutes and a half to us to have the first ball shot at goal with our Wonder Alice. After fighting for a ball in front of the box, Inês served a wonderful ball to our little swedish that was coming from the right and shot high at the goal but their goalie was well positioned. If the goalie had left that ball pass, Franziska was there ready to push it in.
We scored our goal at the 14th minute. Inês brought the ball from the left side of the field to the middle, attracting their defenders and then surprised them by passing back to the left where Franziska was standing right by the side of the left pole ready to just push in. 1 x 0.
Our Wonder Alice would shoot again from the right after a great pass from Inês but this time hit the crossbar. I will talk to her to start shooting more close to the ground. It’s harder for the goalie to reach the ground than the cross bar. On the 21st minute a moment that scared and surprised us. A HIS player trapped the ball, passed by Inês, dribbled Bella but Mikayla was fast and reached the ball before HIS had a clear chance of shooting. The surprise was that Mikayla got the ball and made a punt, the ball bounced three times, one of those over the goalie and got into the goal! First goal ever directly from the goalie! Last year Bella assisted one goal from Marta but I never saw a goalie scoring. Franziska have some merit because she was in front of the goalie distracting her. Way to go, Mikayla! 2 x 0.
On the 24th minute of the match, Franziska made Klismann proud. Alva had a throw in, the ball bounced, Franny Skywalker dribbled by passing a ball to one side and running to the other and shot without a chance for the goalie. 3 x 0 SCIS and second goal of our German Panzer.
Second half did not changed that much. We kept pressuring. On a corner around the 31st minute Alice almost scored shooting without trapping. Our Wonder Alice worked much better with Inês on this match, passing constantly and presenting herself as a great alternative on the attacking. Wait, there is more from our petit Swedish. She found Inês on the edge of the goal box. Our Portuguese brain passed without trapping to Franziska, that was perfectly positioned by the side of the left pole and only had the trouble to push inside the goal. 4 x 0 and hat trick from Franny Skywalker!
At 45th minute Hailey found Franziska who quickly passed to Inês. Our Portuguese star spun and shot to the right of the goalie. 5 x 0 Hongqiao. After that, Hailey was incredible. Fighting for the ball, passing and driving HIS defenders crazy.
Goals: Franziska (3), Inês, Mikayla
Assists: Inês (2), Franziska
MVP of the match: Inês
Conclusion about Dragons Cup
Bella and Mikayla barely touched the ball as goalies so they were not really tested. It worries me for the next match the fact they did not face a real challenge. We dominated the match but we shot too less. With all due respect to HIS, for example, only shooting 10 balls at the goal in 50 mins is too less. We need to practice A LOT this.
On the bright side, we are passing better than I expected for the beginning of the season. The Midfield with Inês, Alva, Alice, Hailey and Sinead is working very well. Mikayla was solid as a defender and Tehillah showed me that he has to fear of throwing herself in front a ball as a defender.