“Who is Spartacus”…the lions huddled in a circle.”I am Spartacus”, after a few inspirational words from Tim the lions game against rouge was underway. Starting with a 3-5-2 formation, Allen in a holding midfield role, mike and myself roaming around the midfield with Tim and Fred upfront,, 3 at the back, and mat from Taipei city in goal. Cheers mate. The lions started off well enough passing the ball around with a few forays forward coming from Christian and Fred, what we lacked in structure we made up for with shouting and long balls forward. The rouge were also putting together a couple good passes in the first 15 min from the defenders through to the forwards but rarely threatening in the final third as our midfield and defense managed to halt their attacking threat. 1^st goal: The play started with Alan winning the ball in midfield, breaking up a decent rouge attack and moving the ball swiftly to mike who opened the play up bringing Luis and I into the game. Luis receiving a pass out on the right and threading a well weighted threw ball past the final defender for me to run onto and slot home beating the keeper at his far post 1-0. The goal seemed to settle the lion’s early nerves with one or two good passing combinations coming after the goal. A lose ball in the box was kicked against a lions hand, a penalty ensued which was well saved by our stand in keeper guessing correctly and blocking a firm shot to his right. Within two minutes another penalty was awarded the reason for it I cannot remember as the following evening at Carnegies killed quite a few brain cells. This one was however converted with a well taken penalty the keeper this time guessing the wrong way.1-1

A few nerves started to show from the lions as some rookie mistakes were costing them at the back where easy passes were not finding feet and thus leading to some sustained rouge pressure. 2-1 the rouge winning a ball in the lions half after some suspect defending the resulting ball lifted into the lion’s box where the CF coolly controlled the pass turned and shot past two lions defenders. Good goal, poor defending in the play leading up to the goal.

The lions just not managing at this point to string together any meaningful play, a few needed subs were made and things seemed to improve with the lions pushing forward looking for the equalizer, a couple good chances came our way with a few final balls just not having the quality needed. 2-2 after a sustained period of lion pressure a good cross was swung into the box which was converted with the slightest of touches by an unnamed rouge defender. OG lions back on level terms. Confidence reinstalled the lions pushing forward with the rouge defending deep allowing us the liberty of some good passing play which was once again let down by our final pass. Another penalty was awarded this time for the lions, Alan playing a ball into the rouge box where it was flicked up against the hand of a defender, Luis taking the resulting penalty and missing, hitting the bottom left bar with a well struck but cheeky penalty attempt.

A few minutes of extra time were played with neither team managing to carve out the winning goal. 2-2 a fair result on the balance of play.