Kokoonpano:

Kesä 2016 - M5 Lohko 1

AC Sauvo - KuuLa (2 - 1)

elokuu 19, 2016 kl 19.00 Sauvo OP-Hakkispaana KHT

#1 Game report:

Game report: AC Sauvo-KuuLa 2-1

The sun was shining and the weather was close to optimal when KuuLa squared up against the league number twos AC Sauvo for this Friday evening game on the meadow-like OP-Hakkispaana areena. From last years corresponding fixture the KuuLa players knew to expect a frantic home crowd and an opposition who would not shy away from making a tough challenge. The stage was set for an entertaining game of football.

The KuuLa side opted to start with a tactic which involved applying pressure to the opposing attack lower down the pitch than what we became accustomed to during the first half of the season but that has worked well during recent games. AC Sauvo started the match well with their defense, having ample amount of space, being able to give accurate long balls for the pacey and well organized attackers to work with. After a few let offs for the KuuLa defense AC Sauvo broke the dead lock after 9 minutes. A perfect long ball freed the AC Sauvo attacker who put the ball past a chance-less Joonas in goal. Not the kind of start that KuuLa were hoping for. After the first goal KuuLa started to get a foot in the game with longer periods of ball control and a few half chances often resulting from crosses from the left wing that Leo and Kari did good work getting on the end of, unfortunately without a resulting goal. While KuuLa had their chances the Sauvo attack still looked dangerous especially through their long-ball tactic. This again resulted in a breakaway in the 22^nd minute that the KuuLa defense had to use questionable means to stop. The resulting foul, that in the view of many spectators, happened inside the box resulted in a free kick that the AC Sauvo player dispatched unstoppably to the upper left corner. The questionable decision to only give a free kick in the situation leading up to the goal sparked heavy protest from the home side that would only get worse during the course of the game. This was definitely not an easy game for the referee who's job was not made easier by the fact that one of the assistants had fallen ill right before the game leaving the team of referees one man short. The KuuLa players refused to join the Sauvo players in this loathsome behavior and concentrated their efforts on playing football. After the second goal KuuLa made the tactical change to switch the position of the fullbacks Hadi and Fidde. This turned out to have a positive effect on the team and led to a much more balanced defense. The game was now a very balanced affair with both teams creating some half chances with the first half destined to not witness any further goals.

The second half started were the first had ended, a tightly contested affair with neither of the teams backing down from a challenge. The KuuLa players displayed some good football with occasional long periods of possession. The longer the half progressed the more the run of play moved to KuuLa's favor. The 56 minute saw Kim Nylund introduced to the game. Kim was to play an excellent game constantly being playable out on the left and always ready to challenge his opponent. Later in the game KuuLa also made the change to move Hadi from central defense to central forward. Again a good tactical move by the KuuLa management as this further moved the balance of play to the AC Sauvo half. In the 83^rd minute of play KuuLa finally got their just deserts as Kim got on the end of a brilliant pass by Maytham and coolly slotted the ball past the Sauvo goalkeeper. Despite of KuuLa applying some good pressure during the remainder of the game this was to be their only goal of the game which ended 2-1.

Despite loosing the game KuuLa put in a highly respectable performance and again managed to challenge one of the top teams of the division. As aforementioned, the game saw a very good performance by Kim. Other player who's contribution I would like to mention include Lukas and Leo. Lukas gave a sturdy performance at the back with many good interceptions and hard, but fair, tackles. Leo put in a tireless effort running up and the down the full length of the field, especially in the first half, and also getting on the end of a series of attacks. The whole team also deserve praise for the way they handled the constant “suunsoito” by the opposing team. The game saw a couple of more serious infringements, committed by both teams. As the Sauvo players beleaguered the referee insisting on their team mates complete innocence the KuuLa players instead tried to calm down their team mate and got on with the game. A fact that makes yours truly very proud to be a KuuLa player.

#13 Henrik Nyman

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