In a thrilling league encounter at Lowton High School, Tiki Taka Dortmund secured a convincing 3-1 victory against Leigh Genesis Electrons. The match kicked off a little later then scheduled but showcased a blend of tactical prowess and individual brilliance from both sides.
Tiki Taka Dortmund lined up in a 2-3-3 formation, with Kamsy Anajemba in goal, flanked by central defenders Archie Hunt and Lawrence Nwakamma. The midfield trio consisted of Nikita Velicka on the right, Kai McCaughtrie in the centre, and Zac Humphries-Deveney on the left, while the attacking trio featured Sonic Leung on the right, Andrew-Franz Nkemka as the central striker, and Yasin Mohammed on the left. This setup allowed for fluid transitions between defence and attack, with the midfield expected to control possession and create opportunities for the forwards.
The substitutes for Tiki Taka Dortmund included Noah Rule, Zac Leach, and Oscar Manders, providing depth and tactical flexibility for the manager to utilise throughout the match.
The action began early, with Nikita Velicka making a crucial tackle in the 7th minute to thwart an attacking move from the Electrons. Just a minute later, Andrew-Franz Nkemka tested the Leigh goalkeeper with a shot that was saved, showcasing Dortmund's attacking intent. Zac Humphries-Deveney then played a through ball pass in the 9th minute, creating a chance, although Andrew's subsequent attempt went wide.
Archie Hunt made a great tackle in the 11th minute to prevent the Electrons from getting a shot at goal. In the 11th minute the first wave of substitutions occurred. In a tactical reshuffle, Noah Rule replaced Andrew, Zac Leach came on for Lawrence, and Oscar Manders took the place of Sonic.
The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Yasin Mohammed scored from inside the box, converting a long pass from Kai McCaughtrie with his left foot. This goal ignited the Dortmund side, but they were unable to capitalise further, with Zac Humphries-Deveney's attempt going wide shortly after.
Defensively, Hunt continued to shine, intercepting a potential chance for the Electrons in the 15th minute. Yasin Mohammed was active in attack, forcing two saves from the Leigh goalkeeper in the 19th and 24th minutes, but the score remained 1-0.
Further substitutions were made in the 26th minute. Sonic Leung returned to the pitch, replacing Zac Humphries-Deveney, while Lawrence Nwakamma came back on for Archie Hunt, and Andrew-Franz Nkemka re-entered the fray, taking the place of Yasin Mohammed.
As half time approached, Nikita Velicka made a great defensive block in the 27th minute, preventing a goal-scoring opportunity for the Electrons. However, in the 29th minute, the Electrons equalised, scoring to make it 1-1 just before the half-time whistle blew.
The second half began with Andrew-Franz Nkemka continuing to press, but his attempts in the 31st and 32nd minutes were saved and went wide, respectively. In the 33rd minute, Yasin Mohammed returned to the pitch, replacing Oscar Manders, while Zac Humphries-Deveney and Archie Hunt also re-entered the game, taking the places of Sonic Leung and Kai McCaughtrie.
As the match progressed, Lawrence Nwakamma made a crucial block in the 38th minute, preventing another chance for the Electrons, while Kamsy Anajemba showcased his goalkeeping skills with a full-stretch save to tip the ball around the post. Andrew remained persistent, but his shot in the 39th minute was saved as well.
The breakthrough for Dortmund came in the 50th minute when Noah Rule calmly slotted the ball home with his right foot, converting a chance set up by Lawrence Nwakamma. This goal restored Dortmund's lead at 2-1. Sonic Leung continued to threaten, but his attempt in the 53rd minute was saved.
Kamsy's heroics continued in the 55th minute with a point-blank reaction save, while Lawrence's defensive efforts prevented further chances for the Electrons. The match was sealed in the dying moments when Sonic Leung scored after being on the end of Oscar Manders great cross to put the game to bed and make it 3-1.
As the final whistle approached, Nikita Velicka returned to the pitch, replacing Zac Humphries-Deveney, ensuring a solid finish to the match. Tiki Taka Dortmund's performance was marked by strong defensive displays and clinical finishing when needed, with Lawrence Nwakamma earning the player of the match accolades for his commanding presence in defence throughout the game.
