After dispatching of on CASL team during the days play, if like buses another came along. This time in the form of CASL Arsenal..
With the sun setting on a good day for the Porto boys, they took to the field to try and turn one win into two and finish the day as champs of their group and ready for Sundays competition. As word started to get around, the Porto boys already knew they had qualified for the semi's and the game ahead was to decide 1st and 2nd of the group.
It looked like the 5 hour break had took it's toll on the Porto boys mentally as they looked a far cry from the team that had so convincingly beaten CASL AC Milan earlier. It was a return to individual play as the CASL side looked to exploit this. With a few quick nippy players up front, the Porto back line were getting pulled all over the place as captain Nicholas was left and right covering his full backs. It was CASL that opened the scoring with a exploiting of the space they were given as they broke free to score past a somewhat frozen Dani in the net. With this, Coach called for the Porto boys to give it more and to wake up to the challenge in front of them. this ignited some hope as Remi, Cole and Max all went close with shots and just found a keeper in the CASL goal equal to the task. Against the run of the play, but in similar fashion to the first, CASL scored again. With this and the obvious unwillingness to work hard, Coach lost his patience with the Porto boys and bellowed for them to start working hard or get off the pitch.. With this ringing in the ears of the Porto side (and probably everyone else in a 1 mile radius) the Porto boys started taking their efforts to the next level and found that (surprise Surprise) that the CASL side couldn't cope. It was however one of the best solo goals I have seen from the Porto boys that got them back in the game when Cole picked up the ball in the middle of the CASL half and dribbled it round 3 players to then smack into the top corner. With this the Porto boys looked ready for the task of a fightback, but a cruel twist was to follow as after the CASL kick off, the CASL team broke fast and with a shot hitting the post, Porto saw it roll through the broken net and the linesman signalled a goal.
At the half, Coach ripped up his notes and said that the task was simple, We win this half! We leave the field with pride and we forget about what has preceded us.
As with many Porto games before this, the side were a different animal in the second half and were hunting everything down and after ever loose ball. Where as in the first half, we were limp into the challenges, this half we were strong and determined! Winning balls that in the first half were not ours to win and creating chance after chance. With this, came reward as the Porto side got their second from another well worked solo effort from Ryan on the left flank. It was all Porto after this and the shots were flying in.. Everyone from Remi to David to Nicholas in defence were trying their chance at the goal in hope it found the net, but that third goal was to elude us. A sucker punch then came after a long hit and hope just (and I mean just) got over Dani, despite a well leaped effort and just tipping the ball, which then cruelly rolled into the net for the fourth and killer goal.
FT 2-4
Coach's Corner
A we have seen before and saw during this game, we are a team of two halves and when we are good, we can play and compete not just with the best of them, but beyond. This is a lesson to be learned and that we are a team not struned with Superstars, but built on unity and team work rate that garners results. When we work hard and play for each other, not just ourselves, we get what we deserve. At times again (as mentioned against Red Bull) We can be great and it's those moments we need to understand why we are great and try and draw them out to last longer! Well recovered boys and good strong finish with your pride intact!!
