Line-up : Jean M.,

James P., Christoffer H., Andy D. (Martijn E.),

Maarten B., Antti M., Andrew H., Tarik S.,

Luka N., Nils M., Daniele M. (Antoine G.)

One week after the deception of losing a game in Brabant Wallon, RBBFC were back in their garden and ready to redeem themselves. The message from the captain Jean is clear, the team has to show some determination and fight as a group. The atmosphere in the changing room is good with the DJ Gary setting the mood with some very niche choices of sounds (hardstyle millennial electro?). Pause on the music, Jean starts the team talk. Long time no see, RBBFC is back to a 3-5-2 system: Jean in goal, James, Chris and Andy at center back, Maarten and Antti down the wings, a midfield three of Hodgy, Tarik and Lukic and our two strikers of the day, Nils and Daniele. As Hodgy rightly explained it to the team, at that point of the season, it was about discovering who we are as a team.

The game starts and for the first 15 minutes, RBBFC struggles to keep possession. Ambiance Auderghem players are able to combine between the lines, playing one-twos and finding space behind our wingers. This strong start will be rewarded as the opposite striker is sent by a through ball on a one on one against Jean, Ambiance player instead of shooting decides to cross the ball to his teammate, which seemed to be in front of him, goal for Ambiance (0-1).

Unlike last week, RBBFC reacted to the conceded goal by playing more football. Triangles passing started to take place in middle with Holdy, Tarik and Lukic able to control the pace of the game, Nils dropping off and offering a great platform to play forward and Daniele making runs behind the defense. The most important was perhaps, the adjustment between the wingers Maarten and Antti and our center backs, Andy, James and Chris, which gave us a better defensive stability and the ability to push forward.

RBBFC started to mount the pressure on the Ambiance defense and on a cross from the left, Nils could head the ball from the back post in the penalty box, Tarik arriving from the second line, hit the ball, which was stopped by the defender’s hand. Penalty. Hodgy took the ball with confidence and converted from the penalty spot to make it (1-1) and 151 goals to improve his stats. Boosted by this goal, RBBFC pushed to score a second one before the half-time but always found the keeper or a leg to stop their effort.

Half-time

We started the second half with the same motivation as we ended the first one. Unfortunately, we conceded a free kick close the box. Jean calls the defenders and organizes the wall. However, the wall is not even ready that the free kick is quickly taken and headed in by the Ambiance player (1-2).

RBBFC players were not ready to lose and fought even more to find a way back into the game. On a long ball from our defense, Daniele, after a good control, ran towards the goalie but being in a difficult position to shoot, he decided to pass the ball behind to our flying left winger Antti who saw the keeper off his line and scored with a nice lob (2-2).

It was time to bring some more energy with Martijn coming in for the injured Andy and showing his defensive skills, while Gary had plenty of stamina to offer up front with Daniele coming off. Some good football being played by RBBFC and the return of our own Croatian Modric, Luka, helped the team especially when the pressure increased.

Nevertheless, the third goal came from another long ball that Nils flicked (winning another challenge) in the path of Maarten whose finish, another nice lob, was as good as his celebration, CR7 style (3-2). The end of the game was a bit tensed but RBBFC could see the game out and enjoyed an overall deserved win against an opponent who played some good football.

The season is long but this game showed that this team has some character. Let’s build on it and let’s enjoy the best day of the week.

Reporter and MOM: T. Si M’Hammed