MEFF #61: THE AUTOBAHN DANCERS 3 - 3 COLONEL GETAFE (THE AUTOBAHN DANCERS WIN 2-0 ON PENALTIES)
The final MEFF FAECES Quarter Final presented an intriguing battle between two contrasting styles: Sicky picked a youthful and energetic Colonel Getafe side who demonstrated the Spanish ‘pass and move’ culture, while Patto went for a ‘robust’ and experienced squad to represent The Autobahn Dancers, who attempted patient build-up play with minimal movement, before showcasing the usual German ruthlessness in the penalty shootout. The first half was especially tense and both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball on the slippery surface, while physical play from both defences kept chances to a minimum. After Rowan had denied both Patto and Brett with interesting face-saves, the goals slowly began to come as Aidan tucked away a cheeky goal after good work from Griff, before the Getafe defence self-destructed as forward pressure from Ian and Fletch resulted in two well-taken finishes. Sicky and Kieran began to see a lot of the ball and dictate play, which allowed Crozier to then claim two goals of his own (the second a beauty) as Getafe retook the lead, but the damage could’ve been worse had Brett not cleared off the line from Crozier just before half time.
The second half saw only one further goal late on as the game ended in a draw. Nevertheless the pursuit of an equaliser from the Dancers before then left acres of space for Getafe to attack as Pete pushed up to support in attack, but good tracking from Fletch (along with some reluctant shooting) kept Sicky’s team at bay, while Pete did well to marshal the back-line, saving well from Sicky with one diving save and playing out the ball to Ian and Brett who began the slow push forward each time.
The inevitable shoot-out saw Patto and Fletch put away the decisive penalties for the Autobahn Dancers as Sicky dragged his penalty wide and Pete saved the other.
0-1: Aidan(Griffin worked his way down the left wing before swingingin a ball to the front post that Aidan skilfully nudged into the goal with his toes)
1-1: Ian(Persistent pressure from Fletch ended when he charged down a clearance, and the ball fell to Ian on the edge of the area who calmly finished into the bottom left corner)
2-1: Fletch(Rowan’s clearance was blocked by Fletch with his right boot, and before the looping ball could land he expertly volleyed it into the net with his left foot)
2-2: Croz(Andrew “Gareth Bale” Griffin saw his fierce shot from the left wing parried away by Pete, but Robert “Clint Dempsey” Crozier was on hand to sidefoot home the loose ball at the back post)
2-3: Croz (A measured ball from Sicky allowed Crozier to race clear and send a beautiful 15 yard strike from the left inside Pete’s right post)
Half Time
3-3: PhilG(Patto dragged a corner back to the edge of the area where Phil had evaded his marker and produced a superb low first-time shot that Rowan could do little about)
Men of the Match were Fletch, for being “energetic and direct, and kept his team in it by snuffing out multiple two-on-ones”, and Kieran, who “kept moving, offering options up front and retained the ball well”.
