We finally arrived to the last match of the season depending only on our own effort to be league champions. We just had to tie this match and we would be first place. We defeated them before and we could defeat them again but we all knew it would not be easy.

Monday before the match, coming back from a break of a week, we spent one hour watching the highlights from our match at YCIS (soon a post here about it). They are good. Last year they destroyed us in the league but we manwith during a great match to defeat them during SISAC. We are the to strongest teams in the West League. We knew that their player number 10 is very good (must be the Brazilian blood) but not only that, they know how to pass and this is lethal because they save their energy and makes us run like headless chickens.

I wanted our team to start pressuring from first minute, to not give space to them. In my mind, we are playing at home, we know our field, that’s what we need to do. We made a lethal mistake throughout the whole match, we did not pass the ball. What we did were only deflections. On the other hand, YCIS with their numbers 10, 9 and 18, were always passing. They scored a goal around the middle of the first half and even though we had some good attacking situations, their goalie (a different one from the match we played at YCIS) was always very secure and did not give any chances.

We started the match with our traditional formation of Janie, Katy and Inês, Franziska, Louise and Kyra and Hailey forward. The second half, I kept this team, just subbing Janie by Cassie, to give her some match time. I sincerely was not that concerned to go to the second half with only 1x 0 against us. A tie would give us the championship. I kept the same formation but unfortunately by pure bad luck Franziska scored an own goal. Here is a tip for everyone in the team; whenever defending very close to our own goal, twist your body so your back is to our goal, this will help avoiding wrong deflection going into our own net. That own goal was a bucket of freezing water on our heads. Our team felt the blow, specially Franziska. That moment lacking concentration gave YCIS the chance to score one more goal. Now we were 3 goals behind and seeing our title slipping through our fingers.

In my mind, losing by 3, losing by 10 would not make a difference. Even with YCIS having one more match, I was quite sure they will not lose against Suzhou. I decided to risk a formation that we hardly practice where I have only one midfielder and three strikers. I was glad that this at least worked for a while. Inês was the link between defense and attack. This was an strenuous  job since she had to cover the whole midfield and sprint in a counter attack but she did it marvelously. She assisted Louise to score a beautiful goal. But unfortunately there are some days that are not really ours. #10 from YCIS always cut from the left, to the right foot to shoot but on that match, she manage to do the opposite, and shot with her left foot. Our defender (I think Kyra or Katy) was caught by surprise and Cassie was not focused on the play. Result? The ball slowly died into the net. YCIS 4 x 1.

I don’t like to see my athletes giving up. I like to have teams like Rocky Balboa. If you ever watched a Rocky film, you will understand. He gets punched in the face, falls but right after stands up and is ready to fight. That’s the spirit that I want. I don’t want to see my team giving up, no matter how adverse is the scoreboard. I have some players with this spirit but I want the whole team like that. Inês took a distant shot and one of the few mistakes from YCIS goalie, she was not able to hold the ball and it fell into the goal, or Victoria pushed it inside. I am not sure because I did not see the tape yet. Anyway, it was our second goal, with more 10 minutes of the match to go. Unfortunately, due to lack positioning they scored a 5 goal from the left side of our box. Dear goalies, stay underneath the poles. It’s easier to cover the angle, specially when they are attacking from such a extreme angled position.

After the 5th goal from YCIS, we kept pressuring but not much could be done. We were beaten. I was sad, as for most of the players but we have to understand that YCIS is a great team. They are good but we are also very good. In any given day, any team can win. It’s important to see that we fought. We need to improve our passing. I will drive my team insane with this. If we don’t pass better and shoot more, we will always be the great team that does not win anything.

I would like to praise Kyra’s effort. Unfortunately we lost Elisa for that match and Kyra, even not feeling well, kept playing, showing amazing dedication to the team. The same for Katy, that even with cramps, was ready to go back in during the end of the second half. Above all, I must say that Inês was the name of the match for me. One moment that is in my mind is her struggle to chase a ball  that was almost going out but even with cramps on the calf, she did not give up. I moved her around, changing positions and worst of all, she speaks my language so she suffers more than anyone else, trust me.

Goals: Louise, Inês
Assists: Inês
MVP of the match: Inês

I have to confess that I was really apprehensive about this match. It was a super busy day with the IB Film Oral presentations and yesterday night I stayed here until 1AM finishing the lights for the amazing musical Urinetown. Knowing myself, if we had lost the match yesterday, I would be over stressed to manage the lights during the premiere of the musical so it was a lot of pressure.

Good news were the fact that almost all team was back. Elisa was not feeling well and Franziska still sick, poor her. She needs to recover because we need her a lot. With almost full force, I felt more confident on our team. I noticed also that one of the best players from Suzhou was not present and they did not have subs so I told the girls that we had to pressure them on their defensive side. This would force Suzhou, if they attack to speed up the game, and it would make them tired. And that what we did. The ball barely reached our goalies. If I am not mistaken, during first half, Cassie did not touch the ball once and during the second half, I think Janie did not even had this trouble. The problem was that we did not convert our pressure in goals. That until around the 14th minute when Hailey fought for a possession with the goalie, the ball slowly rolled towards the goal and Kyra just had the trouble to gently push it in almost on the goal line. Kyra’s first goal of the season and Victoria did not film (shame on you, Victoria!) :).

Not much time after that, a goal to make any coach proud; a rehearsed play where Louise instead of shooting the free kick, pass to someone (in this case Olivia) and she has the trouble only to push inside the net. Scis 2 x 0.

The second half was even more pressure from our side. We wanted more. Once more I moved Kyra back to defense (so she could “rest”) a little and pushed Inês to the left wing. Interesting is that I think Inês desires so much to score a goal that she simply runs non-stop whenever as wing or striker. On a corner kick taken by Louise, she passed to the middle and Olivia hit it dead center, scoring a nice goal.

With 3 x 0 our team had a goal; help Inês score a goal. We swapped positions between Olivia and Inês and trust me, Inês was trying a lot to score a goal. And it happened, the last play of the match. Louise found Inês very close to the goal, she shot, the goalie defended but Inês got the rebound and scored it. I was very happy for her, as you could see me jumping in the video but above all, I was happy with the overall performance of our team. Those girls are incredible. Two goals scored from rehearsed plays. This can make any coach proud.

Goals: Kyra, Olivia (2), Inês
Assists: Louise (3)
MVP of the match: Louise

I should had seen the bad omen. Having 5 players sick or injured was not a good sign. For that, I would like to publicly thank Louise for her effort by playing while still recovering from her flu.

Well, I decided for the first time not to write about the match right after it. It’s very nice and easy to listen and write compliments but when we lose, it’s very hard to talk about. Particularly, I hate it. I always told my team that I lose with them. You can ask any teacher, I don’t like to talk about our defeat to others. Yes, I know it’s a learning experience but I prefer to study the day before, not by having a zero in a test. I don’t think losing will make our team better. Practice makes our team better. What may happen is that maybe after this horrible performance, we can be more motivated to outshine ourselves in the future.

Since I am responsible for the lights in the Urinetown Musical, I still did not have time to watch the tape of the match, kindly filmed by Victoria, who still recovering from her sprained ankle so I don’t recall all the details (my days in campus now are from 7:30 AM until 12:30AM this week). What I can say is: we did not talk to each other in the field, we did not take advantage of all the shots we had (we shot a lot), our goalies were not well positioned and we let Rego’s number 10 and 11 play freely. I only had two substitutes and they gave as much as possible for the team as the players there were in the field. We were off. I felt we did no play with heart, specially the first 15 minutes of the second half. We opened the score in the first half with a beautiful shot from Hailey, then not long after Louise also scored a nice goal from far. They scored after a moment of confusion between Janie and Inês/Katy (for me, lack of communication) and then Hailey score another beautiful go with a header, but this time it was a own goal.  The final score was 5 x 3 to REGO. We had many chances to score but REGO actually played very good, specially their number 10 and 11, with quick passes, dribbles and beautiful football.

On a more lighter note, I cannot write this post without talking about how …. unique Louise’s behavior was. Extremely hyper active, joyful and talkative, exactly the normal opposite during a match when she normally is extremely concentrated, serious and focused. Still, like that, she managed to score two goals and control most of the time the midfield. Other highlight of the match was actually after it, when Katy went to ask Rego’s #10, the best player of the match, if it’s true that she is joining SCIS next year. Ah, she asked this in front all REGO’s team. 🙂

From the coach’s perspective, I decided to test a new formation to play when we are losing with two strikers. Next practice I will try to see how we can organize that.

Goals: Hailey and Louise (2)
Assists: Olivia (2)
MVP of the match: Louise

With the cancellation of the Dragon’s Cup, we had a friendly match against our sister school. The fact I stayed under the rain not exercising last practice and went directly to the theater to work on the lights of Urinetown (leaving 12:30AM) took a toll on my health; I was with a 39 degrees fever Saturday morning (102F for the americans). I barely could speak. After taking some medicine, I at least could articulate some meaningful sentences.

Even as a friendly match, it had a special meaning for us. It would be the match that Julia would have a chance to play with the girls. This is a huge honor to play with the top athletes of our school and the girls all agreed that she should have a chance to play. Unfortunately Esmeé was sick so she could not join this historic moment.

Considering I was not feeling that well, I don’t remember much of the details. What I know is that Janie had little work during the first half, while Cassie had absolutely no work during the second half. All due to our excellent defensive system with Inês, Katy and Kyra. Olivia still recovering from being sick so she did not play that much. Hailey once more was decisive as a striker, opening the score with a nice goal after a nice pass from our Danish Butler, Louise. She has at least one assist in almost every match (together with Franziska), it’s incredible. We finished the first half with 1 x 0 but we deserved more. Pudong has a great player, number 7 that gave some trouble to us but we dominated most of the midfield.

Second half we started with full force. Right in the beginning, Suh-Young stole a ball, advanced and scored her first goal in the season. Unfortunately Julia was already in the field so nobody actually was filming it. I am really sorry for that, Suh-Young! After this goal, we started feeling more comfortable and other goals came naturally. Julia scored a nice goal with a deadly header after Louise’s pass. I pushed Kyra back to defense and moved Inês to left wing and it was a great experience. Inês was a lioness there, pushing the ball forward and having many chances to score goals. With Inês as left wing, the ball did not pass once to our defensive midfield. On top of that, she assisted Franziska’s goal. We stayed attacking all the time. With that pressure, we still scored more two goals, with Louise and Franziska. A great match indeed. That second half is how we need to play every single match, with that same winning spirit.

The sad note was the fact Victoria twisted her ankle when trying to recover a ball. She will be out for a couple of days and probably will not be able to participate in our next match against Rego. I would also like to thank all the Parents present for the support. Your support help this team being the team 100%.

Goals: Hailey, Suh-Young, Julia, Franziska and Louise
Assists: Louise (2), Franziska and Inês
MVP of the match: Inês

The inevitable happened. No, we did not lose yet. Why would you think that? We suffered our first goal. That made me reflect for hours before writing this post and as a matter of a fact, I re-watched the whole match, marking the plays that I want to talk with the team before next practice.

Some of you must be thinking: “Come on, Pessôa! We won 4 x 1! How can you be so somber?” Here is my explanation. I want our team to be best. I want our team to be like Barcelona FC from Shanghai. I want us to reach a level where we almost play football like a virtuoso plays an instrument. I chose these 14 athletes because they have the talent and now it’s my job to polish their skills and make them play as team.

We started the match shy, actually like the Brazilian team normally starts their matches, with the thought we can win the match at any time. This is the worst mistake we can do. We have to play each match like it’s a final. If you are on the field, keep in your mind that while you are there, seven other players are at the bench waiting for their opportunity to prove they are worthy to be on the field too and also remember that eight other players were cut so you are part of the team. When you step in the four lines of the football field you must remember to play for the “holy trinity of football”; for your coach, for your team and above all, for yourself. You play for your coach because he trusted you enough to have you in the game and believe’s in your potential. You play for your team because without the team, you are nothing. You depend on your team and your team depends on you. Lastly you play for yourself so when the match is over, no matter the result, you are fully aware that you did your best.

REGO have a very skillful player that has good ball control and good football insight, knowing how to move and pass. In the first half, for our luck, she was playing almost alone in the midfield so Kyra and Inês had everything under control, not allowing many chances to arrive to Janie. The very few time the ball reached our goal, Janie was there, guaranteeing it with no problems at all.

Our main problem was the lack of passing. We need to pass more the ball, make the ball run, not us. Hailey was isolated at front, not counting too much with the help of our wing midfielders, since they were more concerned to defend. That’s the curse of being at the sides of the field in our default formation; you have to run constantly. There is no way out.

We tried a couple of times some shots but nothing major, until 34 minutes, one minute to finish the 1st half, Franziska tries a shot from almost midfield. The ball was strong but not that powerful but it was very close to the ground. The goalie was not prepared and that’s a mortal sin for goalies; SCIS 1 x 0. Janie and Cassie, you have to be focused on the match a 100%, even if we have the possession of the ball.

Second half we swapped goalies and Cassie had the same situation that Janie had during the first half; very few balls actually arriving in our box, at least the first part of the second half. Eight minutes in the second half, we started pressuring more and Louise found Hailey sprinting from the right side. Hailey pushed forward and scored with a crossed shot, as she promised me she would do. Hailey, you should be “Louise dependent” now. 🙂

After the second goal, Rego kind of slowed down and this gave us new opportunities. 4 minutes after Hailey’s goal, Louise and Kyra where fighting for a ball in the midfield and it bounced freely to Esmee, that also through the right side pushed it forward and scored a nice goal, being currently the only player that scored goals in both matches at home. SCIS 3 x 0.

The best was yet to come. 50 minutes into the game, Kyra now playing as left wing, gave Louise an exquisite pass to Louise, that pushed it forward and delivered an indefensible high shot. If I were Louise, I would say “Thank You Kyra” for at least three days in a row after that majestic pass. As a matter of a fact, Kyra was almost perfect in this match (perfect only Pelé). She defended during the first half and was a great left wing during the second half.

With 4 x 0 on the scoreboard (actually, today no scoreboard, a pity), we lifted our feet from the gas pedal and slowed it down completely. Rego, with nothing else to lose, started pressuring us and Cassie showed her skills, defending 3 difficult shots in a row. It’s great to have goalies like Janie and Cassie that the team feels safe. We just cannot think that just because they are good, we don’t have to worry that much. Our job is to never allow the other team to shoot. We forgot this the last minute of the match, when the best player from REGO was alone, she took a low shot and Cassie was not 100% focused. It was not Cassie’s mistake, it was not defenders mistake. It was our team mistake. Someone should had been in front of that ball so the goalie would be protected. That was the last ball of the match. I think that’s what hurts more. It’s not fair with our goalies that work so hard to suffer a goal in the last play. Do not worry, Cassie and Janie. We will practice so much that you two will be nickname “The Great Wall”.

What I can say is we had four matches, we won the four matches. We scored 11 goals and suffered only one. We still have four matches to go in the Puxi league. I want our team to arrive as the top team from the west side of the river.

Girls, Thursday before practice, let’s watch the highlights of the match and talk about it, please. Meet you all in my room, 3:15PM. Let’s prepare ourselves for the Dragon’s Cup.

I cannot forget to thank our amazing Julia, for filming the match. Thanks Julia!

Goals: Franziska, Esmee, Hailey and Louise
Assists: Louise and Kyra
MVP of the match: Kyra

First match at home and I was anxious. We started a small campaign through the daily bulletin asking everybody to come, watch and support us. Also it was the first time we played with the white uniform so as a good superstitious Brazilian I was at least… apprehensive about it. To stress me even more, Franziska is sick and Elisa could not make it to the match so I was losing a powerful striker and my only bench defender.

I was determined to try today a new formation where Inês would work as a sweeper, tagging along the German team’s best player, number 8. She knows how to trap the ball, pass and she is strong so it would be a great challenge to Inês and actually to the rest of the team to balance it with a new formation. The formation was Cassie as goalie, three defenders (Katy on the right, Kyra on the left and Inês following the the number 8 everywhere), Victoria, Louise and Esmee as midfielders. The main role of Victoria and Esmee were to sprint by the sides of the field, cutting to the middle. Since I had more people defending this time, they did not have to return too much, floating exactly in the half part of our defensive side. Sincerely it did not work as i envisioned. Esmee and Victoria, even though were great during practice last Wednesday, were extremely concerned defending so they were way back. We have to trust our defenders. Of course we cannot leave them unprotected but we need to have people ready to attack. For the first ten to fifteen minutes were pure Deutsch Blitzkrieg. I gave instructions to Olivia, asking her not to come back too much and sub Victoria by her. With this our team started to push the German team a bit away from our defensive side. Inês was having a hard time to keep up with the number 8 but Kyra and Katy were rock solid defending. Katy as a matter of a fact was brilliant. Minimum mistakes, always present and very well coordinated with Kyra, who played better than her previous match but still below of what she played against Suzhou. I would like also to say that Katy and Kyra played the full match, which shows their incredible stamina and determination since I did not have any specific defender on bench.

After balancing more the game, around the 20th minute we had a moment of pure magic. After a regular side throw by Kyra, she passed to Louise, that even with a player on her, rotated and passed a ball that if Xavi (Barcelona) were watching, would have tears in his eyes. This pass found Esmee sprinting from the right wing. My Flying Dutch pushed the ball forward and calmly shot it to the left of the German goal. 1 x 0 to us. Let me more specific. If you watch the video (soon available online) you can HEAR Louise shouting “Esmee!”. She planned that long pass. It’s insane to watch that. Esmee should say “Thank you, Louise” for at least a week.

After the goal I took Inês out to rest and we went back on playing our traditional 2 x 3 x 1 formation until the end of this half with Hailey as the striker, Olivia and Esmee as the wings. Seems that the goal affected the German team and during the second half, at least in the beginning, they were not pressuring so much as they did in the beginning of the match. Around the 9th minute, Kyra stole a ball with a lobby pass, found Olivia, who quickly saw Hailey free as a bird on the left side. Hailey pushed the ball forward and took a shot. Like I shout 120 times during practice, goalies tends to deflect the ball, not hold. Luckly, my Swedish iceberg was calmly there, waiting for the rebound that occured. 2 x 0 with Olivia scoring her fourth goal in the season.

When things were supposed to be easier for us, allowing me to substitute more and give game time to all players, we started to slow down and the Germans started to pressure more. Cassie literally saved the day on the 27th minuted with a miraculous defense. It was as good as a goal, at least we cheered as one. Right after that, another German shot deflected by Cassie hit the pole (blessed pole!) and went back to her hands.

Almost playing at dark, we just held our possession, waiting the match to be over. It was great to play against a strong team as the German one and it was great to see a crowd (still below of what we wanted) supporting us. Katy was a monster in the field. Everywhere, ready to be the human shield for Cassie. We still have tons to improve, starting with the  “bouncing ball” but we are on the right track.

Goals: Esmee, Olivia
Assists: Louise
MVP of the match: Katy

Before I close my post, I want to share with all a little football fable. In the World Cup of 1958, in Sweden, Brazil had on the bench this young kid called Edson. He was only 17 years-old. During the two first matches in the World Cup, he stayed quietly in the bench, not complaining but always ready whenever the Brazilian coach needed him. Due to his performances during practices, drills and training, the players asked the coach to give this young boy a chance and then, on the third match, against USSR, he played. It was a good match and thanks for his participation, Brazil won 2×0. The following match, against Wales, he simply destroyed the match, dribbling like never before and scored the only goal, leading Brazil to the semifinal. Making a long story short, Edson, 17, led Brazil to win their first World Cup ever, against the host Sweden and never more left the Brazilian team. He was considered the MVP of that Cup and for many people, no matter their nationality, he is one of the great footballers that ever existed. Ahhh, Edson is also known as Pelé, maybe you guys heard of him.

Nothing better than start a week with a victory. But don’t fool yourselves, it was far from easy. Like always, the German school is a tough team to play against. They love the game and they play hard. Not unfair but they don’t hold back when they have to defend. Hardly ever you will see one on one against them. Whenever Hailey or Olivia got the ball, two or three players were around them. Our starting line up was; Cassie, Inês and Kyra, Franziska, Louise (Capitain) and Suh-Young and Hailey as the striker.

We had to adapt to their field. It’s shorter than ours and narrower so any punt from their goalie was already almost in our penalty box. They are also not afraid to shoot from anywhere. Their shots hit twice our post but we were not dead. One ball the goalie saved almost from inside the goal and other chance the ball hit both poles, running on the goal line. It was not a goal by centimeters. Our defenders were not in their best day but our goalie was brilliant, almost not offering any rebound. The first half ended 0 x 0 and was an open match, where any team could win.

During the second half our little Katy was a giant defending, not being intimidated by the German strength. Olivia, even though always surrounded by defenders, found a way to be face-to-face to the goalie and that’s mortal; after a precise pass from our captain, our cold blooded Swedish had the patience to wait the goalie decide what to do and shot on the other corner. A true Scandinavian goal.

The Germans felt the goal and reduce a bit their pressure. We did exactly the opposite. Pressuring again, this time our own German served Olivia to score our second goal. We still had time to one more, with Celine pressuring from the right, it was an open avenue from the left and our forwarder Hailey passed the ball to Olivia who carried it all the way from almost midfield to score the third goal. That’s what the British calls a hat trick (hat? Why is that? I need to find out). We in Brazil say is a “goleada”.

Next Thursday we play again the German school but this time at home. It will be a completely different match. They know how we play and we will have the pressure of playing to our crowd. I hope a lot of people will come and support us. It’s a great feeling and incentive to play for an audience that will support us no matter what.

Goals: Olivia (3)
Assists: Louise, Franziska, Hailey
MVP of the match: Olivia