Benedetto’s Revenge
Posted by Kai on March 10, 2008
Benedetto: 3
Redbacks: 1
Venue: Commonwealth Secondary School
Scorer: Ming
After a long hiatus from AFL competition, Redbacks returned to face our first opponents in the league this year. This time, our hosts exacted sweet revenge as they fought to a hard-earned victory over the Spiders. The team was at a bare minimum with only 10 players available for selection at kick-off. A cautious 4-4-1 formation was employed and we were successful in keeping our opponents at bay.
Our resistance eventually broke as Benedetto scored from a good counter attack, with their player sneaking in at the far post to score. It remained that way at half time. With more players arriving, we made some changes hoping to make an impact in the game. Our search for an early equalizer in the second half backfired as Benedetto added a second. We failed to deal with a free kick and once again conceded at the far post.
Not that we were giving the game up that easily. Ming pulled one back after latching on to a brilliant through pass by Ayyub. Although the keeper came out to unnerve him, Ming kept his composure and lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper. Having come so close in previous games, relief was clear for all to see and Ming ran across the pitch to celebrate his maiden goal for the Spiders.
In searching for an equalizer, we inevitably left gaps at the back and Benedetto scored yet again from another breakaway. The goal came after their striker crept in at, yup, the far post yet again. That was how the game ended.
After the game, we reflected on a few learning points from the game. We felt that we are still not utilizing our short passing game. Credit to Benedetto, they closed us down really fast and time and again, we struggle to perform against such hardworking teams. Generally we are still toothless in attack, lacking a serious goal threat. Our strikers are still struggling to combine well with the midfield and each other. We can still do much defensively as it seems we are still leaking goals easily. In Azhar’s words, we were “gifting goals to our opponents”. We hope we will learn from our mistakes and strive to do better in the next.
No worries, we’ll get there.
