LXG 2 – Samedi RV 1
So the LXG warriors came back to Tervuren last Saturday for a welcome home game on our beloved Astroturf pitch. It might give a pretty good burn when you slide in but it’s a damn sight more preferable than 70 minutes of mud in your eyes, in your socks, and in your underpants!
Our opponents were Samedi RV, a young, dangerous side who had already give us a thoroughly good seeing to at their home pitch earlier this season. Sat was a nice day, good footballing conditions and the smell of revenge was in the air. Confidence was high and the feeling was we were going to do one over on these lads. Rumours went round early that they had only 8 players, but these were unfounded and soon disproved, much to our Captain’s displeasure (he had hoped for a lazy run out I think)
Matters became a little complicated when it was known that our nominated referee was sick, and couldn’t come. Grande coach Paolo selflessly nominated himself to referee as the away side refused the offer of one of their own to ref the game.
Nevertheless, Paolo had given us the tactical talk beforehand, and told us the positions, our tactics and the players to watch for on their team. He emphasized their Number 10, a slinky, talented winger-cum-striker who had devastated us with 3 goals and 2 assists in the away game earlier this season. Unfortunately he also looked like the sulky teenager from the Harry Enfield show.
Endrik was especially emphatic on this point when talking with me before kick-off. I was left in no doubt that this guy was to be given up close and personal treatment, or as we say in Ireland, “let him know you’re there”.
The opening part of the match was typical of many of our games this season, the opposition had immediate chances. The relatively new center half pairing of Pat and Peter were caught off guard with a long ball over the top, but our man in black, Michal the Spider was quickly and bravely off his line to snuff out the threat. A fine save it was too. Next chance for them went agonizingly wide of the far post.
After this we started to get on top of them, and it wasn’t long until we took the lead. A beautifully weighted ball beat the offside trap and found our talismanic Frenchman, Vic, who coolly lobbed the keeper. 1-0 to the LXG! Samedi didn’t like it and complained vociferously to the referee, but he waved away their protestes.
The referee was involved again a few minutes later when there was an uncharacteristically full blooded challenge on their Number 10 from our small, unassuming Irish right back. Suffice it to say their winger came off by far the worst in the challenge! The referee was lenient however, and the player got away with a verbal warning.
The second half was a similar affair. We had made some changes which worked to good effect. Martijn came on for Pat and Marco for the Viking Per. Peter changed back to his usual position on the wing, and to good effect. We created many openings and chances for our strikers but their keeper was in good form and made some point blank saves.
Samedi also had an opportunistic break that could have been a goal, but was cut short by a, ahem, professional foul from Peter Puskas. He duly received a yellow card from the referee.
It took a “golazo” from our resident Basque enforcer, Senor Pineda, to kill off the game and crush any remaining spirit the Samedi players might have had.
He picked up the ball in midfield, and with a fleetness of foot that is not attributed to him normally, set off on a mazy run. The run finished with a blast off his big toe, and the ball rocketed into the corner of the net, to the despair off the outstretched Samedi keeper. There was much shouting and uninhibited joy, and also a fair bit of “Me cabo en la puta!” to be heard! 2-0 to LXG!
The game was petering out to a stale finish when Samedi bushwhacked us with a move straight from their training ground. We had taken up our positions as usual for the corner, but didn’t count on their keeper ghosting into the area and flicking a header into the corner of the net, à la Peter “big nose” Schmeichel. 2-1!
But the job was done, and Paolo blew the final whistle, much to the pleasure of us who were tired after all the exertion. So we had won again, but more importantly we had kept up the pressure on league leaders Cobra.
Onwards and upwards to the next game!