By Tom Bus
On November 16, 2013, Round 5 of the Shanghai International Football League took shape. Shock result in the Premier League’s top fixture: Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC versus D.I.B. FC. Soft goals in the Shanghai Sauerkrauts match (above with Krauts) sealed Voodoo Child’s fate. From 8 games 36 goals were scored.
Premier League
In the Premier League DIB FC brought the Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC winning streak to an end with an emphatic victory at Waigaoqiao on another deceptively warm November day. After a tight and tentative start, it was DIB who broke the deadlock as Didier Njewel drove through and beyond the defense before scoring off the post for a 1-0 DIB lead. It only took the Shooters a couple of minutes to equalize as Kevin Wiessler (below) headed home for 1-1. Again DIB went in front as they scored into an empty net for 2-1 with the Shooters claiming offside. They scored again in an empty net capitalizing on a mix-up in the Shooters defense for a 3-1 DIB lead at halftime.
The Shooters began the 2nd half on the front-foot looking to get an early goal, but after missing their first chance, it was DIB who continued to show a ruthless streak in front of goal by extending their advantage to three-goals at 4-1. With pace down the left, newcomer Zhengpin Yu scored to make it 5-1 as he outpaced the Shooters defense. Refusing to give up, the Shooters scored through a goalmouth scramble as Simon Moore applied the finishing touch for 5-2. With a glimmer of slim hope, the Shooters continued to press but were undone by more pace down the left and counter-attacks by the predominantly Chinese side. Two goals in quick succession, including a great finish by Zhengpin Yu, who deservedly got voted man of the match, completed the scoring. The game ended 7-2 and 3 points in the bag for DIB. DIB’s other goals were scored by Tao Zhang (2), Yue Song (above) and Fei Wang.
On Tuesday night November 19, DIB played a five-a-side exhibition match versus European United FC at the Indoor Olympic Stadium in Xujiahui. Stars such as Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, Marcel Desailly, Michel Salgado, Marcus Bent, Andy Cole, Zhao Libin, Lee Sharpe, Shaka Hislop, Ian Walker, Lee Hendry and Any Cole gave ‘acte de presence’. DIB won 11-7! It was a fantastic event enjoyed by many and a great promotion for football in Shanghai.
Shanghai United faced off with FC Oranje. In the 1st half United took the initiative and dominated the first 20mins pushing FC Oranje back to their own half. They created several good chances that were all saved by stand-in goalie Sky Law or wasted by their forwards. As the half drew on and with several latecomers finally into the squad, FC Oranje started playing better getting more grip on the game. Then Wouter Kok (below left) received the ball just over the halfway line, dribbled a few meters forward then fired a distance shot 30 meters out that sailed in the top right corner for a 0-1 FC Orange lead. The goal changed the momentum and Oranje pressed on to double the lead. It came from a quick counter when, from a Sun Shaoyi cross, Chris Nie was able to score a header for 0-2. Just before halftime Nie scored his second with powerful header from a cross over the left (above) sending both teams to tea with a 0-3 score.
In the 2nd half the Dutch goalie took a dump that took a while to deliver so that Wouter Kok made his debut as keeper for the first 8mins of the half. With the wind on their side United tried to do something back playing pressure football and winning second balls. They created several chances but were not lucky with finishing. After 15mins of pressure United got a goal back from a good combination and a low pass in front of the goal that Adebowale Adewale (above 2nd left) was able to get in the net from close range for 1-3. United kept pushing and created several chances but as the half wore on it was FC Oranje who scored from a quick attack when Sun Shaoyi headed to ball into the path of Lee Jinkai (above right) who struck it well with a low hard drive that went in near the post for a 1-4 Oranje lead and that’s how its ended. FC Oranje’s Chris Nie (above 2nd right) was voted man of the match. With this result FC Oranje are back in the save zone at 8. Stuff worthy of celebrations in the Heineken Bus to Abbey Road.
Azzurri FC did battle with Shentong Metro FC. Azzurri played an offensive game while Metro defended and played the counter. One such counter broke down the Azzurri defense early in the match, as Metro got on the score sheet first for a 0-1 lead. Azzurri fought back through a Kwame header and went into halftime 1-1. Then disaster struck for Azzurri when a defender received an elbow to the face in the run of play. He approached the ref, who then had his back to goal but play still went on and Metro was able to score the winner for a 1-2 Metro victory. Metro brought a new player to the pitch; he was really good and had an outstanding performance. He got man of the match honors on his debut. (name unknown-ed)
Shanghai Japan FC crossed swords with Shanghai ReUnited. ReUnited dominated from the start and created several good chances but it was Japan who scored first when Tetsuya Takashima fired a shot from 25 meters out beating the keeper for a 1:0 Japan lead. They doubled their lead 7mins later when Yousuke Kawazoe headed home from a long free kick over the right. That woke up ReUnited and they got a goal back when Chris Steen’s header found the net from an Adam Kling cross for a 1-2 Japan lead at halftime.
Coach Seb Becker’s speech during tea proved the right sort of motivation as ReUnited came out of the break furious and full of vigor to turn things around. They leveled the score when ReU’s defender Max Priebe reinforced offensive efforts that caused the Japanese to score an own goal for 2-2. From a great combination play, Swede Adam Kling then fired a powerful shot beating the keeper and bringing ReUnited ahead for the first time at 2-3. Ousmane 'Nas' Mohamadou was able to top ReU's efforts with a canon ball shot for an aggregate result of 4:2 to ReUnited. Man of the match honors went to Max Priebe.
First Division
In the First Division the Shanghai Sauerkrauts lined up against Voodoo Child. With VC’s beating of Voodoo fresh in their memory from the week before confidence was high at ViCe but this wasn't to last for long. Sauerkrauts had a speculative shot from the end of the box that saw the VC keeper dive over it for a soft first goal by Uwe Hupka and a 1-0 SSK lead. Another soft goal was to follow after VC defender and goalkeeper both left the ball to each other which allowed the Sauerkraut forward Marin Delchev to step in between and slot it into the back of the net for the 2-0 and a mountain to climb for the VC squad. That is how the half finished.
The 2nd half quickly saw another goal from the Germans. A fantastic strike from outside the box by Burak Tuncay completing a solo run hammering the ball into VCs top corner for 3-0. VC managed to claw one back, as Andy Hamilton equaled the quality of the Sauerkrauts first goal by also finding the top corner of the net for 3-1. A VC rally then took place and it looked like a second goal would come and the game would be firmly back on track, however, after the keeper dropped the ball Sauerkraut Stoyan Atsarov poked it in for another soft goal for 4-1. Atsarov then scored his second for 5-1 as VC tried to push men forward. VC ended the game wondering how the score finished as it did but will take heart from a season so far that has seen some great football but not much luck. Sauerkraut Burak Tuncay (below with coke) was voted man of the match.
In what is quickly becoming a fierce local derby, once again the Voodoo versus Shanghai Cosmos game did not disappoint. With both squads missing key players due to injuries and travel commitments, it really was a test of squad depth and player commitment. Over the past few seasons this game has really been a tight and physical affair, and Saturday’s game went along way to continue this tradition. Voodoo had the share of the game early on in the 1st half but failed where it mattered most: on the score sheet. As the half wore on, Cosmos started to find their direction, and the game really sat in the balance. Creating equal opportunities neither team put the other to the sword. It wasn’t until the 35th minute, when mid-season Voodoo recruit ‘Cosmos Mikey’ finally put Voodoo ahead. A cool and collected finish saw Mikey place the ball in the far corner of the fast advancing Cosmos keeper for the 1-0. This was after a nice passage from Voodoo involving Woolard and Pilat through the middle of the pitch. Cosmos Mikey marked his first game against his old club with a beautifully well-taken chance.
As the 2nd half began to wear on, both teams began to tire and looked to the benches, opportunities were coming thick and fast. Pilat had a screaming shot parried from the Cosmos keeper after a nice passage of play from Richie Campbell down the left wing. Credit to the keeper for his save, as this really was a world-class effort to keep it out. Cosmos had a golden chance late on in the game to snatch a point, however after a goal line scramble and an unlucky shot off the post, Voodoo were deserved winners. Voodoo’s Damian Pilat received man of the match honors.
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The Shanghai Vikings’ rest proved wonders as they got their campaign back on track with a clinical win over Shining HFC. The Vikings tried to avoid Valhalla during battle and constantly put pressure on the Shining defense with combination football using the flanks. The pressure finally yielded when Louis Lincoln (above left) found his scoring ways again when he worked the leather over the line from a Peter Rasmussen assist taking a 1-0 Vikings lead at halftime. No sooner the 2nd half had started, Shining equalized when Fei Fei (above middle) got on the score sheet evening out the score at 1-1. The Vikings kept attacking showing great fighting spirit and retook the lead via another Lincoln & Rasmussen team up. Peter ‘Sabor’ Tabor (above right) sealed the deal when he got one passed the keeper for an overall 3-1 Viking victory. With two goals Louis Lincoln was voted man of the match. The Vikings saw seven times Mount Everest conqueror, Nepalese iron man Gancha return to the squad part of a new defensive Rastafarian constellation. A massive Vikings celebration was what followed (below).
Kangbei United FC squared off with Anzacs FC. The early stages of the game were fairly even. Chances were created but neither team was able to convert them. Kangbei then brought on winger Hong Qiang Tao. When he got the ball down the wing he hit a deep cross to the far post, where Zheng Xie (below right) came inside and fired a shot passed the keeper for the opening goal and 1-0 to Kangbei, which was also the halftime score.
In the 2nd half the Anzacs got back on top and managed to force a run of corners. Finally one clicked and Ian Mote (above left) got on the end of Reda’s corner to head home the equalizer 1-1. Chances came and went at either end as both teams pushed for a win. The Anzacs failed to connect with a cross when free in the middle, whilst Kangbei got behind the Anzacs defense causing a huge pinball effect as a succession of defenders kicked it against each other, before the ball finally ballooned over. Anzac veteran and keeper Thorsten Kalus made a tremendous save at his near post and denied Kangbei the winner (below). With 5mins left, Anzac Fletch went 1v1 with the keeper, went around him but forgot the ball. In the dying seconds of the match Kangbei claimed a penalty but the good referee (above middle) decided otherwise and 1-1 it stayed sharing the spoils. Anzac Ian Mote was voted man of the match while Hong Qiang Tao received these honors for Kangbei. Ian Mote: “Our start to the season turned out to be equivalent to buying a Spurs fan a Champions League subscription so we are very happy with this point.”
In the Premier League the Shanghai Puxi Lions are top dogs with 9 points from 3 games. DIB FC and the Big Bamboo Shanghai Shooters AFC are on 2nd and 3rd spot with 9 points from 4. Shentong Metro FC are on 4th spot with 8 points followed Shanghai ReUnited on 5th with 6 points. Shanghai Krauts FC are on 6th with 4 out of 3 followed by Shanghai Japan FC on 7th with 4 out of 4. FC Oranje are on 8th with 3 points. Azzurri FC are on 9th with 1 point (-4) while Shanghai United are the new Lords of the Basement with 1 point and minus 6 goals.
In the First Division the Shanghai Vikings FC are on top with 9 points from 3 games followed by Long Tang AFC with 7 points from 3. The Shanghai Sauerkrauts are on 3rd spot with 7 from 4. Shanghai 3United, Shining HFC and Voodoo all have 6 points. Shanghai Cosmos are on 7th spot with 4 points followed by Voodoo Child with 3 points. Kangbei United FC are on 9th with 2 points and the Anzacs FC are closing ranks with 1 point.
On November 23, 2013, Round 6 of the Shanghai International Football League will take place with games at the Rugby & Football Club in Waigaoqiao and at Tianma Golf & Country Club in Songjiang. Visit the official website to find out more.
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