SQUAD:

Mercelis

Philpot-Minne-Lachia-Bernardo-Hodgson

De Roeck-McGeehan-Novak

McGrath-Kellerman

Bench: Springbob and Billiet

As far as I remember or whenever I would come down my neighbourhood to Chazal to play football against LXG, it would have always been a beautiful day, like no.1's golden locks. This day was no different, it looked simply marvelous as I was rushing down Rue Chazal in 7th gear of my two-wheeled BWin friend to avoid being late outside the academic quarter. This feeling was shortly interrupted when attempting to park next to my team-mates' much supreme and more premium foldable bike park (Brompton crew). As I enter the changing room I am greeted by dozens of lovely smiles and a few of now already usual jokes related to my love of Friday evening markets ;)

As we are getting another mediteraneo decides to join outside academic quarter and party can start, with always good, thoroughly planned and well executed motivational talk led by our own McGee and H'son. Everyone is on their toes and ready to go and finish this on-going curse that lasts now for 2 seasons (if not more, didn't check stats). Off we GO in to the best day of the week!

We started well, immediately showing what the main goal is and it's breaking the LXG curse! High pressing and nice passing around and through the pitch opening some nice chances for a cross from both wings. One such resulted in a post by McGee but nobody on the return ball. We were controlling the match and creating through midfield and flanks but had troubles with the last pass. One such play through the middle found the legs of Novak who didn't think much when he saw a goal in front and went for a low shot aimed on left corner and BOOM, it is the side netting for 0-1. Team continued in the same manner with a bit more idea on how to play offensively from the opponent with not much luck due to superior defenders we have on our side. I am still pretty sure that we could have scored one more goal in the first half but we went for a mid-game team talk with one goal up.

After the usual good and bad (John said: best first half he witnessed in a long time) we went back on the pitch with the same idea, scoring a few more goals to this bunch. We started well, we kept the momentum and continued playing a game with lots of passes (nice to watch and play). LXG stepped up for a few brief moments trying to get across to our half. This resulted in one or two tricky long balls on the sides. However, we picked up too and managed to create two more or less clear chances on return cross ball that usually duo Bagelman and McGee would execute better and find he net but unfortunately not this time. And as usual in football, when you don't score, you concede. Exactly that has happened 7min before the end when McGrAHH outmanoeuvred himself in opposition half - solid tackle from LXG defender, takes the ball few meters up and aims for long through ball behind our defense to their best individual who smart enough runs in the path of Dex which results in a shitty undeserved goal from 0 chances and a final result, 1:1.

I think we improved our game a lot after Portugal game in which we won but probably played one of our worst attacking performances ever (me first). If we mix those two games and combine excellent defense (PT) and great combinatorics with lots of options in the attack, I think we will have a great season in which all the players will enjoy! Already a game against Entente proved it. Now, lets go and show these youngsters from Coin du Balai how responsible, skillful and amazing group of vets (in comparison with them) we are ;)

MoM & Reporter: Luka Novak